| 1 | 1 | | 89R14232 JTZ-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Creighton S.B. No. 2615 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to restricting remote work by employees of public |
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| 10 | 10 | | institutions of higher education. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 51.992 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 51.992. RESTRICTIONS ON REMOTE WORK BY HIGHER |
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| 15 | 15 | | EDUCATION EMPLOYEES. (a) In this section, "institution of higher |
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| 16 | 16 | | education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) Notwithstanding Section 658.010, Government Code, an |
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| 18 | 18 | | institution of higher education may not allow an employee to work |
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| 19 | 19 | | remotely except as provided by this section. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (c) An institution of higher education may allow an employee |
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| 21 | 21 | | to work remotely on a temporary or permanent basis if the employee: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) has a temporary illness; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2) has a temporary or permanent medical condition or |
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| 24 | 24 | | disability requiring the institution to make a reasonable |
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| 25 | 25 | | accommodation under state or federal law for the employee to work |
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| 26 | 26 | | remotely; or |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) is employed in a non-teaching position and: |
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| 28 | 28 | | (A) has demonstrated the ability to work well |
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| 29 | 29 | | with minimal supervision; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (B) has a deep understanding of the employee's |
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| 31 | 31 | | duties and responsibilities; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (C) has demonstrated the ability to manage the |
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| 33 | 33 | | employee's time; |
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| 34 | 34 | | (D) has a record of thoroughly and efficiently |
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| 35 | 35 | | accomplishing the employee's duties; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (E) is employed in a position that does not |
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| 37 | 37 | | require the employee's physical presence at the institution or |
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| 38 | 38 | | direct interaction with students, administration, or other |
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| 39 | 39 | | employees. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt |
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| 41 | 41 | | rules as necessary to implement this section. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 2. Section 51.992, Education Code, as added by this |
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| 43 | 43 | | Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 45 | 45 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 46 | 46 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 47 | 47 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 48 | 48 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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