S-0959.2 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5673
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Senators Erwin, M. Rasmussen and Skratek
Read first time 02/08/93. Referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.
AN ACT Relating to telecommuting; adding new sections to chapter 70.94 RCW; creating a new section; and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that telecommunications technologies and services can be used cost-effectively to substitute for travel in many business applications. The use of telecommunications can reduce the cost of building or renting office space, help reduce highway congestion, reduce energy use, improve air quality, and allow information intensive jobs to be located outside urban areas. The legislature further finds that state government can benefit from increased substitution of telecommunications services for travel, and can provide effective technical assistance to other government sectors and private sector firms wishing to expand their use of telecommuting and telecommuting work centers.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout sections 3 through 5 of this act.
(1) "Telecommuting" means the use of telecommunications services and technologies to allow a worker to perform regular work tasks at a location other than his or her usual worksite.
(2) "Telecommuting work center" means a facility equipped to allow a number of workers to telecommute. These workers may be from different organizations.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The department shall survey state office facilities to develop an inventory of unused office space that could be used for individual telecommuters or telecommuting work centers. The department shall also develop an assessment of how much office space could be saved over time by implementation of an extensive telecommuting program, and shall ensure that state facilities are designed to incorporate telecommuting applications. In developing the inventory and assessment, the department shall consult with the department of information services and the Washington state energy office.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department shall establish at least one telecommuting work center for use by state agencies by July 1, 1994. If available space is not filled by state agencies, the department may make space available to local and federal government agencies. In developing the telecommuting work center, the department shall consult with the department of information services and the Washington state energy office.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The department shall report to the legislature by January 1, 1994, on the feasibility of locating a state office facility with at least fifty employees in a distressed area, using telecommunications technologies and services to provide effective integration of activities with the central office. Activities the department should consider for remote location include, but are not limited to, claims processing, information services, customer service, and licensing and registration. In developing the feasibility study, the department shall consult with the department of trade and economic development, the department of information services, and the Washington state energy office.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The Washington state energy office shall establish a telecommuting technical assistance program to assist government agencies and private sector businesses seeking to implement telecommuting programs.
For the purposes of this section, "telecommuting" shall have the same meaning as set forth in section 2 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the air pollution control account in the general fund to the department of general administration for the purposes of carrying out sections 2 through 6 of this act.
(2) The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the air pollution control account in the general fund to the state energy office for the purposes of carrying out sections 2 through 6 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 70.94 RCW.
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