SB256 SD2.DOC

SECTION 1. Traffic-related congestion on Hawaii's roadways continues to increase every year. The morning and evening commutes are marked by long delays and increased time spent on the road as thousands of automobiles traverse Hawaii's highways and streets. With longer commute times, the working people of Hawaii are spending more time in their vehicles instead of using that time productively at work or at home with their families.

The increase in automobiles on Hawaii's roadways results in the people of Hawaii becoming more dependent on foreign fossil fuel sources. Currently, Hawaii has one of the highest prices for gas in the nation. In comparison to their mainland peers, the workers of Hawaii are using a larger percentage of their disposable income to pay for transportation to work. Many workers continuing to commute to work by car will continue or increase Hawaii's reliance on foreign fossil fuel sources, creating carbon emissions that contribute to the deterioration of Hawaii's fragile environment.

The legislature finds that the concept of telecommuting to work has emerged as a viable workplace alternative. According to a federal Office of Personnel Management survey in 2004, more than twenty-three million workers in the United States telecommute to work. In 2002, a private research firm reported that thirty-five per cent of all employees in the United States use a home computer for work-related purposes. As of 2005, roughly five per cent of the federal workforce telecommutes to work and nine states have enacted state telecommuting policies. Today, the numbers reported in each of the studies mentioned above have likely increased because of advancements in technology, escalating traffic congestion, rising transportation costs, and health or environmental concerns.

The legislature finds that numerous studies across the nation have demonstrated that telecommuting provides an opportunity for employers to increase employee productivity, decrease employee sick leave, increase the labor pool, and even improve employee retention. The growth of telecommuting is partly attributable to the greater availability of broadband technology, employees placing a greater emphasis on work-life balance, rising office rents, and improvements in internet security.

The legislature further finds that telecommuting is a practical solution to environmental concerns and quality of life issues that arise because of long commutes to work. Hawaii should lead by example and further encourage, promote, and increase efforts to adopt telecommuting as a workplace alternative to increase employee productivity, boost employee morale, and join in worldwide efforts to reduce air pollution.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a temporary telework task force. The task force shall develop incentives and recommendations to encourage and expand telework opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

SECTION 2. Telework task force. (a) There is established the temporary telework task force within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes only, to work in coordination with the department of human resources development. The task force shall be comprised of the following:

(1) Two members appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall be from the public sector and one of whom shall be from the private business sector;

(2) Two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be from the public sector and one of whom shall be from the private business sector;

(3) The director of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee;

(4) The director of human resources development, or the director's designee;

(5) The president of the University of Hawaii, or the president's designee;

(6) A member from the Hawaii government employees association appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(7) A member from a local business organization appointed by the president of the senate;

provided that the members of the task force shall collectively appoint a chairperson of the task force.

(b) The telework task force shall:

(1) Develop incentives and recommendations to encourage and expand telework opportunities in both the public and private sectors throughout the State that will help to alleviate the high cost of commuting, reduce Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuel, reduce traffic congestion on Hawaii's roadways, and provide the workers of Hawaii with an opportunity to spend more time either working from home or with their families, rather than in traffic;

(2) Establish subcommittees within the task force that address issues specific to public sector and private sector employees;

(3) Develop a public awareness campaign plan; and

(4) Address any other matters deemed relevant by the task force.

SECTION 3. The telework task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than August 1, 2010. The legislative reference bureau shall provide administrative and staffing support to the telework task force in drafting the report.

SECTION 4. The telework task force shall cease to exist on July 1, 2010.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	256
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII