S‑0366.3   _____________________________________________

 

SENATE BILL 5171

 

           _____________________________________________

 

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

 

By Senators Jacobsen and Finkbeiner

 

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

_1      AN ACT Relating to creation of a telework enhancement funding

_2  board; and adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW.

     

_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 for 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. Therefore,

13  it is the legislature's intent to decrease traffic congestion with

14  the creation of the telework enhancement funding board.

     

15      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  As used in this chapter, "telework" means

16  a work arrangement whereby employees are regularly scheduled to

17  perform the normal duties and responsibilities of their positions

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_1  at locations other than the traditional workplace, through the use

_2  of computers or telecommunications.  The term includes only work

_3  arrangements made by employers for employees and excludes persons

_4  who are self-employed.

     

_5      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  (1) The telework enhancement funding board

_6  is created consisting of seven members.

_7      (2) Five members of the board are voting members appointed by

_8  the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate.  One of these

_9  voting members must be a cabinet-level appointment as the

10  governor's representative to the board.  The governor shall appoint

11  one of the general public members of the board as the chair.  The

12  voting members of the board will be appointed for terms of four

13  years, except that two members initially will be appointed for

14  terms of two years, and three members will initially be appointed

15  for terms of three years.  In making the appointments, the governor

16  shall seek a board membership that collectively provide the

17  expertise necessary to provide strong fiscal oversight of telework

18  enhancement projects.  The governor shall appoint at least three of

19  the voting members of the board no later than ninety days after

20  the effective date of this act. Vacant positions on the board will

21  be filled in the same manner as original appointments.  The governor

22  may remove members of the board for good cause.

23      In addition to the five voting members of the board, the

24  following three state officials shall serve as ex officio

25  nonvoting members of the board:  The secretary of the department of

26  transportation, the secretary of the utilities and transportation

27  commission, and the director of the department of community,

28  trade, and economic development.  The state officials serving in an

29  ex officio capacity may designate a representative of their

30  respective agencies to serve on the board in their behalf.  The

31  designations must be made in writing and in a manner as specified

32  by the board.

33      (3) The department of transportation shall provide staff

34  support to the board.  For administrative purposes, the board is

35  located with the department of transportation.

36      (4) Members of the board who do not represent state agencies

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_1  will be compensated as provided by RCW 43.03.250.  Members of the

_2  board will be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided by RCW

_3  43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

     

_4      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  (1) The board is responsible for making

_5  grants and loans for telework enhancement projects and telework

_6  activities from the amounts appropriated to the board for this

_7  purpose.  To accomplish this purpose the board may:

_8      (a) Provide assistance to grant applicants regarding the

_9  procedures and criteria for grant and loan awards;

10      (b) Make and execute all manner of contracts and agreements

11  with public and private parties as the board deems necessary,

12  consistent with the purposes of this chapter;

13      (c) Accept gifts, grants, or loans of funds, property, or

14  financial or other aid in any form from any other source on any

15  terms that are not in conflict with this chapter;

16      (d) Adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as necessary to carry

17  out the purposes of this chapter; and

18      (e) Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out

19  the powers expressly granted or implied under this chapter.

20      (2) The department of transportation shall provide all

21  necessary grants and loans administration assistance to the board,

22  and shall distribute funds as provided by the board in section 5

23  of this act.

     

24      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  (1) The board shall develop procedures and

25  criteria for allocation of funds for telework enhancement projects

26  and telework activities on a statewide basis to address the

27  highest priorities for enhancing telework.  To the extent

28  practicable the board shall adopt an annual allocation of

29  funding.  The allocation should address the acceleration of telework

30  in Washington.  The board may annually establish a maximum amount of

31  funding available for any individual project, subject to available

32  funding.

33      (2)(a) In evaluating, ranking, and awarding funds for projects

34  and activities the board shall give preference to projects that:

35      (i) Provide incentives to employers to provide telework

36  opportunities for employees;

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_1      (ii) Provide incentives and assistance to employers to locate

_2  jobs outside the congested Puget Sound urban areas; or

_3      (iii) Assist in developing telecommunications infrastructure in

_4  rural and underserved communities.

_5      (b) In evaluating, ranking, and awarding funds for projects and

_6  activities the board shall also give consideration to projects

_7  that:

_8      (i) Are the most cost-effective;

_9      (ii) Have the greatest matched or in-kind funding; and

10      (iii) Will be implemented by a sponsor with a successful record

11  of project implementation.

12      (3) The board may waive or modify portions of the allocation

13  procedures and standards adopted under this section in the award

14  of grants or loans to conform to legislative appropriations

15  directing an alternative award procedure or when the funds to be

16  awarded are from federal or other sources requiring other

17  allocation procedures or standards as a condition of the board's

18  receipt of the funds.  The board shall develop an integrated process

19  to manage the allocation of funding from federal and state sources

20  to minimize delays in the award of funding while recognizing the

21  difference in state and legislative appropriation timing.

     

22      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  (1) Telework project lists must be

23  submitted to the telework enhancement funding board for funding by

24  January 1st and July 1st of each year beginning in 2001. Beginning

25  in 2002, the board shall provide the legislature with a list of

26  the proposed projects and a list of the projects funded by October

27  1st of each year for informational purposes.

28      (2) The department of transportation shall track all funds

29  allocated for telework enhancement projects and telework

30  activities on behalf of the board, including both funds allocated

31  by the board and funds allocated by other state or federal

32  agencies for telework enhancement.

33      (3) Beginning in December 2002, the board shall provide a

34  biennial report to the governor and the legislature on telework

35  enhancement expenditures.

     

36      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  The telework enhancement account is

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_1  created in the state treasury.  Such funds as the legislature

_2  directs or appropriates to the account will be deposited to the

_3  account.  Moneys in the account may be spent only after

_4  appropriation.  Expenditures from the account may be used for

_5  telework enhancement.

     

_6      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8.  The department of transportation shall

_7  provide necessary grants and loan administration support to the

_8  telework enhancement funding board.  The department shall also track

_9  telework enhancement expenditures.  The department shall provide all

10  necessary administrative support to the board, and the board will

11  be located with the department.

     

12      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.  Sections 1 through 8 of this act

13  constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.

 

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