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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing the Texas Finance Commission to ensure that |
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employees of regulated entities may work from home under certain |
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circumstances. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 11, Finance Code, is amended by adding |
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Subdivision Section 11.301 to read as follows: |
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Section 11.301. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary |
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under the laws of the state of Texas, the Finance Commission shall |
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ensure that any employee of a person or entity licensed by an agency |
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within the scope of this Chapter shall be authorized to work from |
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home or another location selected by the employee ("Remote |
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Location"), provided the licensee: |
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(a) Ensures all in-person customer interactions will be |
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conducted at the physical location; |
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(b) Maintains appropriate safeguards for licensee and |
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consumer data, information, and records, including the use of |
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secure virtual private networks ("VPNs") where appropriate; |
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(c) Employs appropriate risk-based monitoring and oversight |
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processes of work performed from a Remote Location, and maintains |
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records of the same; |
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(d) Ensures consumer information and records are not |
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maintained at a Remote Location; |
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(e) Ensures consumer and licensee information and records |
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remain accessible and available for regulatory oversight and exams; |
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(f) Provides appropriate employee training to keep all |
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conversations about, and with, consumers conducted from a Remote |
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Location confidential, as if conducted from a commercial location, |
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and to ensure remote employees work in an environment conducive and |
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appropriate to that privacy. |
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SECTION 2. The Finance Commission may adopt rules regarding |
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the provisions of this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |