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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