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.