Bill Text: HI SR90 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Telework

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-19 - Referred to TEC/JDL, WAM. [SR90 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SR90-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	90
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of human resources development to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing and implementing a telework program for state agencies on oahu.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Oahu has the largest population of all the islands of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, as a result of its increasing population, the traffic on Oahu's roadways is also increasing; and

 

     WHEREAS, congestion and traffic on Oahu's roadways will continue to increase until there is a viable solution that is financially feasible and can be completed in a timely manner; and

 

     WHEREAS, the current proposed solutions for Oahu's traffic issues involve construction of roadways and a rail system; and

 

     WHEREAS, these proposed solutions may take many years to complete and will require billions of state dollars; and

 

     WHEREAS, there may be a simpler and less costly method to reduce some of the congestion on Oahu's roadways; and

 

     WHEREAS, an alternative solution to the problem of increasing traffic congestion on Oahu's roads is to create a telework program for eligible state agencies; and

 

     WHEREAS, a telework program would provide a flexible work arrangement under which a state employee can perform the duties and responsibilities of the employee's position from an authorized worksite other than the location from which the employee would otherwise work; and

 

     WHEREAS, ideally, eligible state employees could use broadband connections at home to perform their occupational duties; and

 

     WHEREAS, common criticisms of the telework program are a lack of control of the employees and possible network or technical support issues; and

 

     WHEREAS, these criticisms can be addressed by providing a telework site for the eligible state employees with an on-site manager; and

 

     WHEREAS, a telework program would effectively decrease the number of commuters on the road by permitting eligible state employees to perform their occupational duties from either their residence or a designated telework site that may be closer in proximity to their residence than their state office location; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, which required the heads of each federal executive agency to:

 

(1)  Establish a policy that would enable eligible employees of that agency to participate in telework;

 

(2)  Determine the eligibility of all of the employees of that agency to participate in telework; and

 

(3)  Notify all employees of that agency of their eligibility to participate in telework; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 clearly encourages and recognizes the importance and viability of telework; and

 

     WHEREAS, this federal act provides a viable framework that the State could use to establish and implement a telework program for state agencies on Oahu; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has an opportunity to become an early adopter of a progressive and innovative solution to roadway congestion; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State already has the means and existing resources that could be used for or converted as telework sites; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Department of Human Resources Development is requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing and implementing a telework program for state agencies on Oahu; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Resources Development establish the economic impact that establishing a telework program would have on the State as a whole; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Resources Development is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, the Director of Human Resources Development, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and the State Director of the United Public Workers.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Telework