Government Legislation
June 3, 2008 – House Passes “Telework Improvements Act of 2008″
By passing the Telework Improvements Act of 2008, the House took a major step toward statutory expansion of telework in the government. The measure would require agencies to develop telework programs that let eligible employees telework at least 20 percent of their working hours every two weeks.
Under the legislation, passed June 3, agencies would have to designate a senior-level employee as a telework managing officer and incorporate teleworking into their continuity-of-operations planning. In addition, the bill would require the comptroller general, the head of the Government Accountability Office, to submit an annual report to Congress that would evaluate agencies’ progress on their telework programs.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved a counterpart bill, the Telework Enhancement Act (S. 1000).
December 19, 2007 – Bush signs Energy Bill that includes incentives for Telecommuting
The SBA is also under orders to develop a $5 million, 4-year pilot program to encourage telecommuting in small businesses, by conducting presentations about the benefits it offers and by reaching out to businesses considering telecommuting options. Click here to see an article by CCNMoney.com
August 4, 2007 – House approves Provisions for the Telework Enhancement Act of 2007
“The provisions represent a significant step forward because they address telework training, and current policies do not force agencies to have a complete definition of who can and cannot telework. Current rules also do not require agencies to have a full-time employee overseeing the program” – Rep. Frank Wolf (VA)
March 27, 2007 – Senate Bill 1000. “The Telework Enhancement Act of 2007″ introduced
Senator Ted Stevens (AK) and Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) introduced this bill which will mandate that all Federal employees be elegible for Telework unless proven otherwise by their agency, and it will establish a Telework Coordinator within each agency.
May 22, 2006 - Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer
With gas prices skyrocketing, Hoyer discusses the importance of Telecommuting.
Dec 6, 2005 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A checklist of suggested actions that should be taken by large companies in preparation for a Pandemic such as the Bird Flu (H5N1- virus). Telework is among their suggestions as a way of continuing normal business operations.
June 28, 2005 – Senator Rick Santorum
Introduces Telework Tax Incentive Bill that would provide tax incentives for employees who work from home.
June 23, 2005 - Kansas Senator Sam Brownback and Nebraska Representative Lee Terry
Introduced a Bill that would establish tax credits for parents who telecommute at least 40% of the time!Senate Bill
May 23, 2005 – Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman
Introduced a bill that would stop the double taxation of people working for a company in one state, but living in another.Senate Bill
April 20, 2005 - Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
$20,000 tax credit for companies that conduct an assesment of what it would take to implement a Telework Program! $1200 awarded per teleworker employee each subsequent year to help to cover costs!
Public Law 108-447, Division B, § 622 of December 8, 2004
… [E]ach Department or agency shall provide quarterly reports to the Committees on Appropriations on the status of telecommuting programs, including the number of Federal employees eligible for, and participating in, such programs: Provided further, That each Department or agency shall designate a “Telework Coordinator” to be responsible for overseeing the implementation and operations of telecommuting programs, and serve as a point of contact on such programs for the Committees on Appropriations.
Public Law 108-199, Division B, § 627 of January 23, 2004
The Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and the Small Business Administration shall each establish a policy under which eligible employees may participate in telecommuting to the maximum extent possible without diminished employee performance; Provided, That, not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, each of the aforementioned entities shall provide that the requirements of this section are applied to 100 percent of the workforce: Provided further, That, of the funds appropriated in this Act for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and the Small Business Administration, $200,000 shall be available to each Department, or agency only to implement telecommuting programs: Provided further, That, every 6 months, each Department or agency shall provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations on the status of telecommuting programs, including the number of Federal employees eligible for, and participating in, such programs, and uses of funds designated under this section: Provided further, That each Department or agency shall designate a “Telework Coordinator” to be responsible for overseeing the implementation of telecommuting programs and serve as a point of contact on such programs for the Committees on Appropriations.
Public Law 106-346, § 359 of Oct. 23, 2000
Each executive agency shall establish a policy under which eligible employees of the agency may participate in telecommuting to the maximum extent possible without diminished employee performance. Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall provide that the requirements of this section are applied to 25 percent of the Federal workforce, and to an additional 25 percent of such workforce each year thereafter.