HB1020:

State agencies; telecommuting and alternative work schedules policy.

Bill Summary:

Secretary of Administration; state agencies; telecommuting and alternative work schedules policy; application to otherwise qualified persons with a disability. Provides that the statewide telecommuting and alternative work schedule policy established by the Secretary of Administration and such policies developed by each state agency, as required by the statewide policy, shall specify that it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a state agency to refuse to allow an otherwise qualified person with a disability to telecommute or participate in alternative work schedules as a form of reasonable accommodation. The bill also requires the Secretary to convene an interagency work group to identify model policies from both the public and private sector, to be made publicly available for all businesses in the Commonwealth, that enable persons with disabilities to participate in the Commonwealth's workforce through telecommuting and alternative work schedules. Finally, the bill (i) prohibits state agencies from including the number of otherwise qualified persons with a disability who are allowed to telecommute as a form of reasonable accommodation in annual percentage targets for the number of positions eligible for telecommuting or alternative work schedules and (ii) requires state agencies, in their report to the Secretary on the status and efficiency of telecommuting and participating in alternative work schedules and with regard to specific related budget requests, to separately identify such required information and data for (a) otherwise qualified persons with a disability who telecommute as a form of reasonable accommodation and (b) all other eligible employees.