HF 574

1st Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/28/2011 03:09pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; promoting efficiency and energy savings through
electronic conduct of state meetings and through telework; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 3; 15.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [3.091] REDUCED ENERGY USE AND COST; TELEWORK.
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new text begin To reduce state government building energy use and costs associated with work by
legislative employees, each department supervisor in the house of representatives and the
senate and each appointing authority of joint legislative entities, in consultation with
appropriate human resources staff, may develop and implement a telework policy for
employees within their department. The policy may include:
new text end

new text begin (1) the option for telework from home for up to 20 percent of the work days when
the legislature is not meeting in regular or special session; and
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new text begin (2) the option to work a regular schedule of four ten-hour days each week, or a
similar schedule that will reduce commuting to work by 20 percent, when the legislature is
not meeting in regular or special session.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [15.436] ELECTRONIC CONDUCT OF STATE MEETINGS.
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new text begin To the greatest extent practical, state executive agency meetings must be conducted
by videoconference, audioconference, or other electronic means if the meetings otherwise
would involve travel for which agency employees would be reimbursed. An agency
head or an official of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities designated by the
chancellor may grant exemptions from this requirement as necessary to allow people other
than state employees to participate effectively in meetings, or when otherwise essential to
efficient and effective conduct of state business. This section does not authorize an agency
to avoid compliance with the open meeting law in chapter 13D.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end