S‑0364.2   _____________________________________________

SENATE BILL 5170

           _____________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Jacobsen, Finkbeiner, Eide and Kohl‑Welles

Read first time 01/12/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

_1      AN ACT Relating to commute trip reduction; and creating new

_2  sections.

_3  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

_4      NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature recognizes that commuting

_5  accounts for more trips and miles traveled than any other single

_6  purpose.  The legislature also recognizes that telework has been

_7  found to reduce commute trips and provide flexibility in work-

_8  related travel.  Additionally, telework enables employers to allow

_9  employees to work outside of urban areas, which reduces urban

10  commute trips while strengthening rural economies.  The legislature

11  further recognizes that telework is a key component in a

12  comprehensive transportation demand management package.

13      NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The joint task force on telework

14  enhancement is created, to be composed of:

15      (1) Eight members of the legislature selected as follows:  Two

16  members from the house of representatives transportation

17  committee; two members from the house of representatives

                               p. 1                       SB 5170

_1  technology, telecommunications, and energy committee; two members

_2  from the senate transportation committee; and two members from the

_3  senate energy, technology, and telecommunications committee;

_4      (2) At least one person representing each of the following:

_5      (a) The office of financial management;

_6      (b) The telecommunications industry;

_7      (c) Labor organizations;

_8      (d) The department of transportation;

_9      (e) The utilities and transportation commission;

10      (f) The department of community, trade, and economic

11  development;

12      (g) A business or other organization that has successfully

13  implemented a telework program;

14      (h) The Washington State University Energy Program; and

15      (i) The department of information services.

16      NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The joint task force on telework

17  enhancement shall meet during the interim and report back to the

18  legislature by December 1, 2001.  The report to the senate and house

19  of representatives must include, but is not limited to, analysis

20  and recommendations on the following:

21      (1) Innovative information technologies, including

22  collaborative software and videoconferencing;

23      (2) The impact of telework on the transportation system;

24      (3) Successful rural telework efforts; and

25      (4) Employers that have operations and attributes that would

26  naturally benefit from telework.

‑‑‑ END ‑‑‑

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