state workers may work from home, if the boss agrees

The text as introduced · 558 words

89R2349 CJC-D

By: Flores
H.B. No. 635

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authority for certain state employees to work flexible

hours and to work from home or other authorized alternative work

sites.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 658.006, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 658.006. VARIED [ STAGGERED ] WORKING HOURS. (a)

Normal working hours for employees of a state agency may be

staggered for traffic regulation or public safety.

(b) An employee who works from an alternative work site as

part of a policy approved under Section 658.010 may, with the

approval of the employee's supervisor, complete all or part of the

employee's work hours at times other than the regular working hours

established under Section 658.005.

SECTION 2. Section 658.010, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e) to

read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the [ The ]

employee's personal residence may not be considered the employee's

regular or assigned temporary place of employment without prior

written authorization from the administrative head of the employing

state agency.

(c) The administrative head of a state agency may adopt an

agency policy that authorizes the supervisor of an employee of the

agency to permit the employee to work from an alternative work site,

including the employee's personal residence, as the employee's

regular or assigned temporary place of employment.

(d) A policy adopted under Subsection (c) must:

(1) identify factors the state agency will consider in

evaluating whether a position is suitable for an alternative work

site, including whether:

(A) the position requires on-site resources;

(B) the provision of in-person service is

essential to the position; and

(C) in-person interaction is essential to the

position;

(2) require an employee who will work from an

alternative work site to enter into an agreement with the state

agency that establishes the employee's responsibilities and the

requirements for communicating with and reporting to the agency;

and

(3) provide for the revocation of an employee's

permission to work from an alternative work site if:

(A) the position is no longer suitable for an

alternative work site based on the factors identified under

Subdivision (1); or

(B) the employee violates the agreement entered

into under Subdivision (2).

(e) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,

the state auditor's office shall compile and submit a report to the

legislature providing information about policies adopted under

Subsection (c). The Department of Information Resources and the

Texas A&M Transportation Institute may assist in creating the

report. The report must include:

(1) a list of state agencies that have adopted a

policy;

(2) an estimate of the number of employees who work

from an alternative work site as permitted under a policy;

(3) a summary of the results of a survey provided to

state agencies that have adopted a policy that includes a

discussion of:

(A) the requirements of each agency's policy;

(B) the productivity, efficiency, and value to

taxpayers of employees working from an alternative work site as

permitted under a policy; and

(C) the collective effect of agency policies on

traffic congestion; and

(4) any other information the state auditor's office

determines to be relevant and beneficial.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.