Title: An act relating to creation of a telework enhancement funding board.

Brief Description: Creating a telework enhancement funding board.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Rasmussen and Kline.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: International Trade & Economic Development: 1/18/05, 1/27/05[DPS-WM]. Ways and Means: 2/2/05 [w/oRec-TRAN].

Transportation: 3/2/05, 3/3/05 [DP2S].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5063 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Doumit, Eide, Pflug and Roach.

Staff: Jack Brummel (786-7428)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5063 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Kim Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Generally, telework refers to work independent of location. Broadly defined, anyone who works at home, at a client's office, in a satellite office or a telework center, or on the road can be considered teleworking.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill: The term "telework" is defined as a work arrangement where employees and self-employed persons are to work at locations other than the traditional workplace using computers or telecommunications.

The Telework Enhancement Funding Board (board) is created with five voting members appointed by the Governor and three ex-officio non-voting members from the Department of Transportation, the Utilities and Transportation Commission, and the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development. The Department of Transportation is to provide staff support to the board.

The board is to make grants and loans for telework enhancement projects and may provide assistance to applicants, enter into contracts or other agreements, accept financial or other aid, and adopt rules. The board is to develop procedures and criteria for allocation of funds; give preference to projects that provide incentives to employers and assist in developing telecommunications infrastructure in rural and underserved communities; and give consideration to projects that are cost-effective, have matching funds, and have a sponsor with a record of successful implementation. The board is also to report to the legislature on projects and expenditures.

The telework enhancement account is created in the State Treasury. Expenditures from the account may be made for telework enhancement only after appropriation. If specific funding for the bill is not provided in the Omnibus Transportation Appropriations Budget by June 30, 2005, the bill is null and void.

The Department of Transportation is to provide administrative support to the board and track telework enhancement expenditures.

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: If specific funding for the bill is not provided in the Omnibus Transportation Appropriations Budget by June 30, 2005, the bill is null and void. A technical correction is made.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute provides that a self-employed person is allowed to benefit from the provisions of the bill. Technical corrections are made.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: Yes.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For (International Trade & Economic Development): Anything we do to encourage telework induces people to stay off the roads and reduces the need for more expenditures on roads. This program is not limited to high-tech employers; all employers could take advantage of it.

Testimony Against (International Trade & Economic Development): None.

Who Testified (International Trade & Economic Development): PRO: Senator Jacobsen, prime sponsor; Lew McMurran, WA Software Alliance.

Testimony For (Transportation): None.

Testimony Against (Transportation): None.

Who Testified (Transportation): No one.