By: Watson, et al. S.B. No. 1032
 
  (Israel)
 
   
 
 
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 working hours, including compensatory time and
  overtime, at times other than the regular working hours established
  under Section 658.005.  An employee who works from an alternative
  work site is subject to existing agency compensatory time and
  overtime policies.
         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 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 agency
  that establishes the employee's responsibilities and 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 Texas Department of Information Resources shall compile and
  submit a report to the legislature regarding the agencies that have
  adopted a policy under Subsection (c). The Texas A&M
  Transportation Institute may assist in creating the report. The
  report shall include the following information:
               (1)  a list of agencies that have adopted a policy;
               (2)  a description of the policies' requirements;
               (3)  an estimate of the number of employees who work
  from an alternative work site under a policy;
               (4)  an assessment of the productivity, efficiency, and
  value to taxpayers of employees working from an alternative work
  site under a policy;
               (5)  an assessment regarding the policies' effect on
  congestion; and
               (6)  any other information the Texas Department of
  Information Resources determines to be relevant and beneficial.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.