S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    565
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Labor
 
 AN ACT to create a demonstration program and task force on teleworking
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "Telework 2021 Act".
   §  2.  Legislative intent. The legislature takes notice of the growing
 practice of the use of telework as a future form of work away  from  the
 principal place of employment. Telecommuting is being used more and more
 by  businesses  as  a  way  to save money for employers by reducing real
 estate costs, reducing contributions to workers' compensation  premiums,
 allowing  more  freedom  for  a balance between work and family life for
 employees, reducing  air  pollution  and  traffic  congestion,  reducing
 absenteeism,  and  accommodating  those  who  are  disabled.  For  these
 reasons, telework has a very promising future as a form of  out  of  the
 office work.
   Teleworking  warrants  further  research to enable the state to move a
 step closer to using it as a way to save taxpayer's  money,  while  also
 benefiting the state and its employees.
   §  3. Definitions. As used in this act, the following terms shall have
 the following meanings:
   (a) "Remote work center (telework center)" means a workspace typically
 close to employees' homes used part-time by remote workers in  full-time
 or part-time employment.
   (b)  "Satellite  office" means a workspace typically used full-time by
 employees who live near them.
   (c) "Telecommuter" means an employee who has a primary office  in  his
 or her employer's office, but has the training, permission, and telecom-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD01495-01-1

 A. 565                              2
 
 puting  technology  to  work on an as-needed basis in a remote location,
 typically in the employee's home.
   (d)  "Teleworker" means an employee with the training, permission, and
 telecomputing technology to work part- or full-time in a location  other
 than his or her employer's main office.
   § 4. Telework 2021 task force and demonstration program.  (a) There is
 hereby  created   the telework 2021 task force consisting of the depart-
 ments of environmental conservation, transportation, and civil  service,
 the workers' compensation board, the office of general services, and the
 office  of advocate for persons with disabilities.  The task force shall
 be chaired by the designee of the governor.  The chair may appoint other
 state administrative agencies which may prove beneficial to the work  of
 the task force as ad hoc members. The chair may also appoint individuals
 and  representatives  of  organizations  other than state administrative
 agencies to an advisory committee to advise on any aspect of  its  func-
 tions,  powers,  and duties.   The temporary president of the senate and
 the speaker of the assembly shall each appoint a  liaison  to  the  task
 force.    The  advisory committee may be compensated for only actual and
 necessary expenses from existing funds from task force agencies.
   (b) The task force shall be the administrative forum for:
   (1) identifying ways to improve productivity through teleworking; and
   (2) advancing the goal of promoting teleworking.
   (c) The task force shall:
   (1) identify technical assistance and training for state  agencies  to
 assist them in implementing teleworking;
   (2)  identify  and  recommend  means  to  improve productivity, reduce
 costs, and enhance the quality of life of employees through teleworking;
   (3) identify and assist in the development and dissemination of useful
 models for teleworking; and
   (4) review applicable statutes and budget authorization,  the  current
 activities,  regulations, policies, proposed budgets and proposed legis-
 lation of the demonstration program agencies which  would  affect  tele-
 working  and  make  recommendations to those agencies and the governor's
 office, as appropriate, on any changes that would  facilitate  telework-
 ing.
   (d)  The  task force shall implement a demonstration program involving
 employees  of  the  following  state  departments:  financial  services,
 health,  and  transportation  and  the division of housing and community
 renewal, in collaboration with such agencies.
   (1) In the first phase, the task force and demonstration program agen-
 cies shall identify suitable employees for participation.
   (2) In the second phase, the  task  force  agencies  shall  study  the
 impact  of  teleworking on the demonstration program agencies, including
 benefits and detriments to the agencies and  the  employees.  Each  task
 force  agency  shall  apply  its expertise as follows: The department of
 environmental conservation shall report on the  impact  teleworking  has
 upon  the  environment,  the workers' compensation board shall report on
 the impact on workers' compensation claims, benefits, and premiums,  the
 department  of  transportation shall report on reductions in transporta-
 tion use, the department of civil service shall report on the impact  to
 employees  and  employers  concerning  absenteeism and productivity, the
 office of general services shall report reductions in  necessary  office
 and parking space, and the office of advocate for persons with disabili-
 ties  shall  report  on  the  benefits of accommodation to those who are
 permanently and temporarily disabled.

 A. 565                              3
 
   § 5. Report. Eighteen months after the implementation  of  the  demon-
 stration program, it shall be concluded, and the task force shall report
 its  findings  and  recommendations to the governor and the legislature.
 Such report shall be bound and made available to the public.
   § 6. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.