STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1139

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 798

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 798, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a temporary Telecommuting Task Force to develop incentives and recommendations to encourage and expand telecommuting opportunities in the public and private sectors.

The Department of Transportation testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Legislative Reference Bureau; and Disability and Communication Access Board provided comments.

     It is the intent of the Legislature that the scope of the Legislative Reference Bureau's assistance be limited to the production of a draft report.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Director of Transportation to the Telecommuting Task Force;

     (2)  Requiring the Telecommuting Task Force to study and analyze the telecommuting policies of the federal government and jurisdictions that are similar in size to Hawaii;

     (3)  Exempting the Telecommuting Task Force from certain laws regarding public agency meetings and records; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 798, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 798, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Business.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair