H.B. No. 5196 amends Chapter 658 of the Government Code to establish guidelines for telework arrangements for state employees. The bill introduces a new definition of "telework," which is described as a work arrangement allowing state employees to perform their duties away from a state office during their established work hours. Additionally, it creates a new section, 658.011, outlining the conditions under which telework may be awarded by the administrative head of an agency. This includes addressing office space shortages and providing flexibility to enhance the agency's mission. The bill mandates that the reasons for granting telework must be documented in writing, and it specifies that telework cannot be a condition of hiring.

The legislation also stipulates that telework agreements must be renewed annually and can be revoked at any time at the agency's discretion without prior notice. This framework aims to provide state agencies with the flexibility to implement telework while ensuring that the process is transparent and documented. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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