Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology and Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 33 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to implement a statewide telecommuting policy for state employees in order to reduce Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuel, significantly reduce traffic congestion on Hawaii's roadways, and afford Hawaii residents more time with their families.

Your Committees received comments regarding this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development, which supports the intent of the measure.

Your Committees heard testimony that the Department of Human Resources Development has implemented alternative measures to help achieve the same goals as telecommuting, while affording employees more time with their families, by promoting flexibility in employees' work schedules through an alternative workweek program and flexible working hours policy and procedure for full-time and part-time employees. Your Committees find that the Department of Human Resources Development's strategies are a good first step to reaching the stated goals. Your Committees believe that adopting a statewide telecommuting policy will expedite the reduction of Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuel, reduce traffic congestion, and support Hawaii's families.

Your Committees have amended this measure by transferring its provisions to chapter 78, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in order to apply to all state employees and by deleting subsection (c) on rulemaking as it is unnecessary. Your Committees also have amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive amendments for the purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology and Transportation and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 33, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 33, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.