Sec. 651.007. EXIT INTERVIEWS. (a) In this section, "state agency" means a board, commission, council, committee, department, office, agency, or other governmental entity in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government. The term does not include an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(b) Each state agency shall conduct an exit interview with an employee who leaves employment with the agency. The state agency shall conduct the exit interview by having the employee access the questionnaire posted on the state auditor's Internet site and electronically submit the completed questionnaire to the state auditor. The questionnaire must state that the employee has the option of having the employee's questionnaire furnished to the head of the agency or the governor's office.

(c) The state agency shall conduct the exit interview in a manner that allows the employee alone to describe the employee's reason for leaving employment. The state agency may not alter the description stated by the employee. The state agency may not have access to the questionnaire unless it is provided by the employee under Subsection (b).

(d) Subject to Subsection (j), the state auditor shall develop the exit interview questionnaire. In developing the questionnaire under this subsection, the state auditor shall consult with the comptroller and representatives designated by the comptroller from small, medium, and large state agencies.

(e) Not later than the 15th day following the end of the calendar quarter, the state auditor shall submit, subject to Subsection (j), a report to each state agency containing the responses to the exit interview questionnaire submitted by each former employee of the agency during the preceding quarter. The state auditor's report may not contain the name of an employee or any other information identifying the employee.

(f) A state agency may not share the responses to an exit interview questionnaire with another state agency.

(g) The responses to an exit interview questionnaire are confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, including responses to a questionnaire furnished to an entity listed under Subsection (b). The responses may be disclosed only to a law enforcement agency in a criminal investigation or on order of a court.

(h) Subject to Subsection (j), the state auditor may audit each state agency's records to determine whether the agency is complying with the requirements of this section.

(i) Not later than December 15 of each year before a regular session of the legislature, the state auditor shall submit a report summarizing the findings of the exit interviews to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the Senate Committee on Finance and House Committee on Appropriations.

(j) Work performed under this section by the state auditor is subject to approval by the legislative audit committee for inclusion in the audit plan under Section 321.013(c).

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 733, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 785, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.