Substitute House Bill No. 5202
Public Act No. 10-169
AN ACT CONCERNING TELECOMMUTING OPTIONS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 5-248i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2010):
(a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services [may] shall, within available appropriations, develop and implement guidelines, in cooperation with interested employee organizations, as defined in subsection (d) of section 5-270, authorizing telecommuting and work-at-home programs for state employees. [where such arrangements are determined to be cost effective. ] Such guidelines shall be designed to achieve the following goals: (1) Increase worker efficiency and productivity; (2) benefit the environment; and (3) reduce traffic congestion. The guidelines of the telecommuting or work-at-home program and determination of whether an employment position is appropriate for such program shall not be subject to collective bargaining under the provisions of chapter 68.
(b) Any employee of a state agency may be authorized either by the head of such state agency or, for any employee of the legislative branch, by the executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management, or his or her designated representative, to participate in a telecommuting or work-at-home assignment. [with the approval of his appointing authority and with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services. ] Approval of such assignment may be granted only where it is determined to be [cost effective] in compliance with the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Any assignment shall be on a temporary basis only, [for a period not to exceed six months and may be extended as necessary] and may be terminated as required by agency operating needs. Each state agency shall provide the Department of Administrative Services with a copy of any telecommuting or work-at-home program arrangement that it authorizes for any employee of such agency.
(c) The Commissioner of Administrative Services shall report annually to the joint standing [committee] committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor and public employees and government administration as to the extent of use by employees as provided pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section.