From: Staffing
Texas Personnel Files
Access to Personnel Files
Although Texas has no general law regarding an employee’s right to access the employee’s own personnel files, the state does have provisions concerning state employees.
State Employees
Pursuant to Tex. Govt. Code § 552.021, public information is available to the public at a minimum during the normal business hours of the governmental body.
Exceptions
Under Tex. Govt. Code § 552.102, information is excepted from the requirements under either of the following circumstances:
- It is information in a personnel file, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, except that all information in the personnel file of an employee of a governmental body is to be made available to that employee or the employee’s designated representative as public information is made available under this chapter.
- It is a transcript from an institution of higher education maintained in the personnel file of a professional public school employee, except that this section does not exempt from disclosure the degree obtained or the curriculum on a transcript in the personnel file of the employee.
