Legislation

HB 551/SB 238– Telework expenses tax credit; extended for employers through December 31, 2016.

Patrons: Barbara Comstock and Mark Herring

Summary:  Extends the telework expenses tax credit for employers through December 31, 2016. The credit currently expires on December 31, 2013. The bill also makes other clarifying changes concerning expenses eligible for the credit.

HB 2197 Income tax, corporate; telework expenses tax credit

Patrons: Barbara Comstock

Summary: Provides a tax credit to employers for expenses incurred in allowing employees to telework pursuant to a signed telework agreement for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2012, but before January 1, 2014. An employer would be eligible for a credit of up to $1,200 per teleworking employee. The total credit amount any one employer may take for 2012 and 2013 is $50,000. The aggregate amount of tax credits that will be issued is capped at $1 million annually for taxable years 2012 and 2013.

Summary:

Telework assistance to public and private employers; reporting requirements. Transfers certain responsibilities regarding telework assistance from the Secretary of Administration to the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance

Summary:

Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance; codified; sunset. Codifies Executive Order 35 (2006) creating the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance under the Secretary of Technology. The goals of the Office are to encourage telework as a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that promotes workplace efficiency and reduces strain on transportation infrastructure. In conjunction with efforts to promote telework, the Office shall work with public and private entities to develop widespread access to broadband services. The provisions of this act expire on July 1, 2018.

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Definition of telecommuting. Defines telecommuting as a work arrangement in which supervisors direct or permit employees to perform their usual job duties away from their central workplace at least one day per week and in accordance with work agreements.

Summary:

State employee telecommuting goal. Establishes a goal for state agencies, except for the Department of State Police, to have 20 percent of their eligible workforce telecommuting by January 1, 2010.

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Security of confidential state data.  Requires the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth to develop policies, procedures, and standards relating to the security data maintained and used by state agencies. The policies, procedures, and standards must include requirements that a user be required to provide a password or other means of authentication to access a computer and to access a state-owned or operated computer network or database through the computer, and that a digital rights management system be used to control access to electronic records containing confidential information.

Summary:

Telecommuting; use of personal computers.  Authorizes a state agency to allow eligible employees to use computer equipment not owned or leased by the Commonwealth to telecommute, if such use is technically and economically practical, and so long as such use meets information security standards as established by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, or the employee receives an exception from such standards approved by the CIO of the Commonwealth or his designee.

State employees; alternative work schedules.  Adds telecommunications connectivity (i.e., broadband Internet access, additional telephone lines, and online collaborative tools) to the list of specific budget items that the heads of state agencies must include in their report to the Secretary of Administration on telecommuting and participation in alternative work schedules by state employees.

Study; telework; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to conduct a two-year study of the ways in which telework opportunities for state and private sector employees can be enhanced and increased. In its deliberations, the joint subcommittee will: (i) identify state agencies whose operations are most conducive to telework or alternative work schedules, (ii) recommend fiscal and other incentives necessary to increase telework, and (iii) examine the impact of increased telework opportunities on the continuity of government operations in the event of natural or manmade disasters.

Summary:

State employees; telecommuting and alternative work schedules.  Requires the Secretary of Administration, in developing a telecommuting policy for state employees, to include identification of broad categories of positions determined to be ineligible to participate in telecommuting and the justification for that determination. The bill also requires each agency head in his annual report to the Secretary of Administration to include specific budget requests for information technology, software, or other equipment needed to increase opportunities for telecommuting and participation in alternate work locations.

Summary:

Commending the members of the Northern Virginia Congressional delegation for their efforts to promote increased use of telecommuting, telework centers, and satellite offices.

Summary:

State employees; establishment of agency alternative work schedule and telecommuting policy. Requires the head of each state agency to establish a telecommuting and alternative work policy under which eligible employees of such agency may telecommute, participate in alternative work schedules, or both. The bill also requires each agency head to set target goals for the number of positions eligible for alternative work schedules by July 1, 2009. This bill is identical to HB 1094.

Summary:

State employees; establishment of agency alternative work schedule and telecommuting policy. Requires the head of each state agency to establish a telecommuting and alternative work policy under which eligible employees of such agency may telecommute, participate in alternative work schedules, or both. The bill also requires each agency head to set target goals for the number of positions eligible for alternative work schedules by July 1, 2009. This bill is identical to SB 468.

Summary:

Creates Telecommuting Incentive Act. Directs the Secretary of Administration to direct the formulation and promulgation of policies, standards, specifications, and guidelines for information technology concerning telecommuting by the employees of state agencies. The head of each state agency is directed to develop a telecommuting policy, which shall be in accordance with the statewide policy to be developed by the Secretary of Administration, to maximize telecommuting without diminished employee work performance or service delivery. The Secretary of Administration is also directed to advise and assist state agencies in developing the state agencies’ telecommuting policies, and the Secretary may provide advice and assistance to a local government or a private sector employer upon the local government or the private sector employer’s request. This incorporates HB 1943.

Summary:

Study; Science and Technology Task Force. Continues the Science and Technology Task Force to consider, among other things, the recommendations of various organizations focusing on science and technology issues, including, but not limited to, the Governor’s Telework/Telecommuting Advisory Task Force (HJR 68, 1994), “Opportunity Virginia,” the State Library Board, the Department of Information Technology (HJR 76, 1994), and the Center for Innovative Technology; the strategic planning process for the economic development of Virginia; and other related issues as it deems appropriate.

Summary:

Governor’s Telework/Telecommuting Advisory Task Force. Requests the Governor to continue this Advisory Task Force and its work in order to derive further benefits from telecommunication and its technologies.