(a) The director or the director’s designee shall develop an intra-agency career ladder program that addresses opportunities for mobility and advancement for employees in the department. The program shall require intra-agency posting of all positions concurrently with any public posting.
(b) The director or the director’s designee shall develop a system of annual performance evaluations that are based on documented employee performance. All merit pay for department employees must be based on the system established under this subsection.

(b-1) If an annual performance evaluation indicates unsatisfactory performance by an employee employed in a position at or above the level of district engineer or division or office director, the commission shall consider whether the employee should be terminated. The annual performance evaluation of a position described by this subsection must include an evaluation of an employee’s:
(1) professionalism;
(2) diligence; and
(3) responsiveness to directives and requests from the commission and the legislature.
(b-2) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 312), Sec. 74(2), eff. September 1, 2017.
(c) The department shall provide to its employees, as often as necessary, information concerning the employees’ qualifications for employment under this subchapter and their responsibilities under applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for state employees.