By:  Cain                                              H.R. No. 797
       73R11775 MPC-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Telecommuting is an innovative business strategy
    1-2  that enables employees to work productively in their own homes on a
    1-3  part-time or full-time basis; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Among the scores of private companies and public
    1-5  entities that have successfully implemented telecommuting practices
    1-6  in the workplace are IBM, American Express, Prudential, the United
    1-7  States government, and the states of Arizona, California, Florida,
    1-8  Minnesota, and Washington; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Employers using telecommuting strategies report cost
   1-10  savings and cost avoidance from reductions in office space needs,
   1-11  related maintenance obligations, and employee parking requirements;
   1-12  and
   1-13        WHEREAS, By promoting a home work environment and decreasing
   1-14  employee traffic, telecommuting simplifies compliance with
   1-15  Americans with Disabilities Act mandates and federal air quality
   1-16  standards while also conserving fuel; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Telecommuting is a successful strategy for reducing
   1-18  energy consumption, vehicle pollution, and infrastructure costs;
   1-19  telecommuters who work at home just one day a week reduce fuel
   1-20  consumption and harmful vehicular pollutants by 20 percent and, if
   1-21  telecommuting days are staggered, put less stress on roadway
   1-22  capacity; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, In addition to demonstrating impressive benefits
   1-24  over costs for many state and local governments, telecommuting has
    2-1  increased employee productivity, improved morale, reduced sick
    2-2  leave, and promoted a more flexible and cost-efficient means of
    2-3  performing public responsibilities; now, therefore, be it
    2-4        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
    2-5  Legislature hereby urge state agencies to investigate and implement
    2-6  telecommuting as a means to help reduce the costs of Texas state
    2-7  government.