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.