BILL NUMBER: S4580A
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to enacting the "New York city teleworking expansion act"
 
PURPOSE:.
To increase teleworking in New York City agencies.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill amends the New York City Administrative Code by adding section
12-140 to require New York City agencies establish teleworking programs
while maintaining protections for collective bargaining agreements and
paid leave.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Congestion is a problem in New York City, requiring thoughtful solutions
that do not unnecessarily overburden New Yorkers. Teleworking offers an
opportunity to reduce congestion and complement efforts to reduce
government issued parking placards. The federal government and many
states and municipalities have established teleworking policies to get
workers out of their cars, and not merely to reduce congestion.
Teleworking has been shown to increase productivity and retention while
reducing absenteeism. Private sector based strategies include tax cred-
its for businesses against the cost of planning, training and capital
purchases necessary to establish a teleworking program (i.e., (Georgia),
or merely free consulting and training for businesses interested in
establishing teleworking programs (i.e., Connecticut).
Numerous jurisdictions have established successful telewerking programs
for government employees. Arizona, for example, required (and achieved)
201 of state government workers in busy Maricopa County (including the
City of Phoenix) to telework. Virginia has required that each state
agency should have 25% of its employee's teleworking by 2010. The feder-
al government requires its agencies to establish teleworking programs
for its employees, and over 100,000 federal employees participate.
New York City should be required to establish a teleworking program for
its employees, with appropriate goals for the percentage of city workers
teleworking.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S7717 Avella 2016
S5650 Comrie 2019
S5536 Comrie 2022
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.