BILL REQ. #:  S-4910.1 

Read first time 02/01/08.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to personal use of certain state-owned resources by state officers or employees; adding a new section to chapter 42.17 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that electronic devices, such as computers, pagers, and personal digital assistants, play an ever increasing role in managing and balancing the workloads and private lives of state employees. More workers find that requirements of their jobs necessitate that they spend personal time checking for work-related electronic mail, reviewing information, and responding to work inquiries. Generally, ordinary use of a computer or similar electronic device does not cause the device to degrade significantly, and the resource of an electronic device is not expended by limited personal use. It is not in the best interest of the state to effectively require its employees to carry two such devices, one for work purposes and another for personal use.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 42.17 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A state officer or state employee may use a state-owned electronic device for personal use, so long as such use does not materially diminish the value of the device or devices, use of the device does not consume tangible resources such as paper or ink, and such use occurs during the officer's or employee's breaks and meal periods, or outside of the officer's or employee's regular work hours.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "electronic device" includes computers, laptop computers, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, and any similar device that does not require the consumption of tangible resources.
     (3) This section does not limit the exceptions authorized under RCW 42.52.160(3), nor does it affect the prohibition of the use of state resources in campaign activity in RCW 42.52.180 and 42.52.185.