Passsed 84th Regular Session:
- HB 1542 Relating to the use of digital message display systems in certain public facilities
Synopsis: The bill amends the Transportation Code and the Local Government Code to authorize the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or the commissioners court of a county to enter into an agreement with a public or private entity for a digital message display system to report department or county information, news, and approved digital advertisements in publicly accessible areas of a DPS driver’s license office, DMV facility, county tax assessor-collector office, or a jury assembly room.
2. HB 2194 Relating to the offense of leaving a motor vehicle unattended.
Synopsis: House Bill 2194 amends the Transportation Code to exempt the use of a remote starter or similar device from the offense of leaving a motor vehicle unattended.
Vetoed by the Governor, 84th Session
- SB 1032 Relating to authority for certain state employees to work flexible hours and to work from home or other authorized alternative work sites.
Synopsis: SB 1032 would allow a state agency head to adopt a policy authorizing a supervisor to permit an employee to work from an alternative work site, including the employee’s residence, as the employee’s regular or assigned temporary workplace.
Governor’s Veto Proclamation: “Senate Bill 1032 takes this process further and would allow an employee’s immediate supervisor, rather than the agency head, to authorize flexible schedules and work from home. This would result in reduced accountability, inconsistent application, and greater potential for abuse. The bill’s provisions regarding overtime and compensatory time earned away from the office are also problematic. Authorizing employees to earn overtime or compensatory time for work performed at home raises legitimate record-keeping and management concerns.”