By: Uresti S.B. No. 497     (Wu)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of an office of data analytics in the   Department of Family and Protective Services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code,   is amended by adding Section 40.041 to read as follows:          Sec. 40.041.  OFFICE OF DATA ANALYTICS. The department   shall create an office of data analytics.  The office shall report   to the deputy commissioner and may perform any of the following   functions, as determined by the department:                (1)  monitor management trends;                (2)  analyze employee exit surveys and interviews;                (3)  evaluate the effectiveness of employee retention   efforts, including merit pay;                (4)  create and manage a system for handling employee   complaints submitted by the employee outside of an employee's   direct chain of command, including anonymous complaints;                (5)  monitor and provide reports to department   management personnel on:                      (A)  employee complaint data and trends in   employee complaints;                      (B)  compliance with annual department   performance evaluation requirements; and                      (C)  the department's use of positive performance   levels for employees;                (6)  track employee tenure and internal employee   transfers within both the child protective services division and   the department;                (7)  use data analytics to predict workforce shortages   and identify areas of the department with high rates of employee   turnover, and develop a process to inform the deputy commissioner   and other appropriate staff regarding the office's findings;                (8)  create and monitor reports on key metrics of   agency performance;                (9)  analyze available data, including data on employee   training, for historical and predictive department trends; and                (10)  conduct any other data analysis the department   determines to be appropriate for improving performance, meeting the   department's current business needs, or fulfilling the powers and   duties of the department.          SECTION 2.  As soon as possible after the effective date of   this Act, the commissioner of the Department of Family and   Protective Services shall establish the office of data analytics   required by Section 40.041, Human Resources Code, as added by this   Act.  The commissioner and the executive commissioner of the Health   and Human Services Commission shall transfer appropriate staff as   necessary to conduct the duties of the office.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.