HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6104
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Affairs
Title: An act relating to state agency hours of operation.
Brief Description: Addressing state agency hours of operation.
Sponsors: Senators Prentice and Tom; by request of Office of Financial Management and Department of Personnel.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 3/24/09, 3/26/09 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Bill (As Amended by House) |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS |
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Flannigan, Hurst and Miloscia.
Staff: Pam Madson (786-7111)
Background:
State law requires all state offices to be open for business from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays. This requirement does not apply to courts of record, the Office of the Attorney General, or the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
The state Public Records Act requires that state agencies, the Senate, and the House of Representatives make public records available for inspection and copying during customary business hours. If the office's business hours are 30 hours a week or less, public records must be available Monday through Friday excluding holidays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Persons may arrange to inspect records at other times.
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Summary of Amended Bill:
State offices must be open for business a minimum of 40 hours per week. Public records must be available for copying and inspection during customary office hours of state agencies, the Senate, and the House of Representatives for a minimum of 30 hours a week. Weeks including holidays are excluded.
Times of day are not specified for business hours or for inspection and copying of public records however, customary business hours for the agency or office must be posted on it's website and made known in other ways designed to inform the public.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The amendment requires agencies and offices to post customary business hours on their websites and to otherwise make business hours known to the public.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill was proposed to give agencies more flexibility in state office hours. This is a response to a trial implementation of a 10-hour day, four-day work week schedule. Ten agencies participated. There were some resulting energy savings but more impressive was increased employee satisfaction, reduced commuting time, and less overtime, sick leave, and vacation leave used. This bill will allow agencies to continue this work schedule after the trial if they choose to do so. In the Department of Veteran's Affairs (Department) employees are very supportive. Sick leave has decreased by 23 percent. This schedule provides more personal flexibility for employees. The Department is open longer on the days that it is open for business. It also saves employees money by reducing their expenses. In addition, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has experienced some utility savings.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Heather Moss, Office of Financial Management; April Harris, Department of Veterans Affairs; and Jeff Olsen, Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.