OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS

Legislative Office Building, Room 5200

Hartford, CT 06106 ↓ (860) 240-0200

http: //www. cga. ct. gov/ofa

sHB-5202

AN ACT CONCERNING TELECOMMUTING OPTIONS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

As Amended by House "A" (LCO 3447)

House Calendar No. : 190

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Agency Affected

Fund-Effect

FY 11 $

FY 12 $

Various State Agencies

All Funds - Cost

Potential

Potential

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

To the extent that the bill increases the number of state employees who telecommute, there may be a potential cost to the state. Under current law, the Department of Administrative Services approves telecommuting arrangements. The bill authorizes agency heads, their designee, or for employees of the legislative branch, the executive director of the Joint Committee on Legislative Management or their designee, to approve and implement telecommuting arrangements.

The potential cost would depend on a number of factors: 1) the number of additional employees who telecommute; and 2) how much, if any, additional equipment must be purchased by the state to create an at-home or alternative work station1. If the state has to purchase a computer, printer, security software, internet access, and designated phone line the average cost per employee could exceed $3,000. If the employee has a personal computer, printer, internet access and the equipment is deemed safe and secure by the state then the cost may be less. There may be a potential increase in workers' compensation liability arising out of at-home or alternative work station injuries, if the injury is shown to have arisen out of and in the course of employment. It is unknown what the extent of the increased worker's compensation liability would be.

In FY 2009 there were 138 employees who had executed telecommuting arrangements on file with DAS2.

House “A” adopted a technical amendment which resulted in no fiscal impact.

The Out Years

The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would depend on the number of state employees authorized to telecommute, what, if any, at-home or alternative work station equipment would be purchased by the state, and any increased workers' compensation liability.

Sources:

Department of Administrative Services Telecommuting Program Guidelines (2005)

1 The current guidelines do not preclude telecommuters from having to return to the agency on a periodic or routine basis to conduct official work business. To the extent that employees would need equipment for an agency work-space and an at-home/alternative work space, the cost of additional equipment would be a factor.

2 The number of executed agreements in FY 09 was 248; however, this figure includes contract renewals. The total number of employees with executed contracts on file with DAS does not include those employees within the legislative branch, the judicial branch or the constituent units of higher education.