State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs- House

If you're here to test five four against one of these bills these bills will not be heard today House Bill fourteen oh five by representative painter. House Bill fourteen eleven by representative McClendon. House Bill fourteen fifty seven by representative fireman. House Bill fourteen sixty four by representative barks and Senate bill two fifty eight which representative are critical to run that for Senator days but those bills Will not be heard today so the first item on today's agenda and if anyone is here to speak for against the bill be sure to the. Let staff know and sign up and you'll be recognized at the appropriate time representative Bentley. It may lead you tell me had an amendment okay. Thank you chairman colleagues we passed out of your house bill eleven sixty three and I remind you guys that was a bill about land that was created around a river with the sand would gather up in the trees will get in there so we had a deep process well our Senate colleagues did not feel they had a twenty five dollar fee was appropriate so we just remove a hundred twenty five dollars fee from this bill so that's all this amendment does is remove the one hundred twenty five dollars fee everything else about the bill is exactly the same so. To get this bill moving forward I appreciate a good vote is amended take any questions anybody might have. Okay representative Bentley has Has given the testimony on her amendment. Any discussion on the amendment any questions. Say none represented mentally recognized close with your amendment I'll close and I make a motion to pass the motion to passion discussion on the motion saying none all in favor say aye. Opposed say no the amendment is passed represented merely recognized to present your bill as amended. I'm sorry did I just I don't think you're recognized bill the two as concurred so I just again with just a. I think would have to do that just yeah my apologies mustache keep me straight we're going pretty quick yeah you do not have to present the bill so Committee we concurred with the amendments and thank you representative Bentley. Next on today's agenda representative Gonzalez you will present your bill okay I will be passing over house bill twelve forty eight. Next on today's agenda is house bill thirteen oh two representative ****. Representative going. When you're not in the audience so we'll pass over house bill thirteen oh two next on today's agenda is house bill thirteen twenty six representative Mayberry. Committee members we have a handout staff will be from representative Mayberry sure but with that band in the. Handout out at this time so just just told me to give an opportunity to look over it. Mayberry you're recognized to present house bill thirteen twenty six thank you Members if you were on this committee last term you know that we had an interesting the proposal on remote work and we spent quite a bit of time I believe it was in October discussing this at length in a committee meeting where where I had guests to share ideas at the handouts that you're looking at were handed out to the committee at that time this is not new information we had a survey that was done by a state agencies to share with us what they're remote work currently had look like at that time benefits and concerns. I shared with you that Maine Arizona Washington Oklahoma Iowa Kentucky Utah Colorado California Missouri Kansas Georgia Ohio Michigan and Tennessee and perhaps more by this point have some remote work capabilities with their state employees and it only makes sense that we discuss that here and make sure that we're all on the same page so I I do want to point out if you look at the one That was sort of the survey the very last page of that I think is the most telling piece of information as to why we need to do this and if yours is probably not in color but it looks like this and here's the reasons why we need to make sure that we are considering remote work employee recruitment fifty three percent said it was helpful employee retention and that is huge eighty seven percent employee productivity if we're concerned that people don't work well from home this shows just the opposite employee productivity ninety three percent helpful if you add up the thirteen twenty seven thirty three and twenty percent and workplace morale ninety three percent this is good for the state of Arkansas the bill but I am proposing does not mandate everybody is sent home to work from home that is not at all what what that is there are jobs that must be in person there are people who work better in person that it and and as we spent the time talking as a committee back in October that's what I heard from the members that perhaps we need to look at just having a policy so that our state agencies are communicating well with the staff and have a clear understanding and a way to gauge is the productivity what it is supposed to be I don't think we would be talking about this to the extent if we had not had COVID and had to force everybody to go home and we learned that kind of a hard way what worked what didn't work and also the expansion of broadband thank you representative makes for all the work there because that's make it making it a lot more available some of the other things that I want to point. Now is I believe that this helps rural Arkansas you don't have to live in the city of little rock and Pulaski County if you don't want to if you want more land if you want to at the start of farm but you're also maybe the the husbands the farmer the wife is the accountant you can do your work from home and still have a good paying job here out of the capital a whole bunch of other reasons this came to me from constituents and from a lot of state employees who have contacted me numerous times to say thank you for bringing this up I was healthier I was happier I was more productive at home and I saved money I felt like I got a raise because I wasn't spending the money to drive with expensive gas I was able to eat from home I was able to exercise instead of commute to work I use that time to exercise my mental health was better I was overall healthier and it's so with those reasons that's why present the bill to you today again it does not say that you have to have everyone remote working it just says there must be a policy in place so that we all understand what what that means and with that I take any questions. Any questions from committee members of. Representative Khokhar recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman I represent Mayberry I think this is an awesome bill you were in the twenty first century and we have a lot of options and. Like ability that way the only question I have is in order to do this the person would have to actually reside in Arkansas to hold a job in Arkansas capital. Actually there's some flexibility in here for that so and that would be up to the state agency it could potentially help us recruit someone that maybe isn't living here that we need their expertise met perhaps cyber security a person that is from another state it would it would give that option to that state agency to do that. Thank you. But you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman thank you for the shout out down there so my my my one kind of question is is it so it's kind of wrapped up into it and to to it almost seems that kind of the way this is drafted is that it is encouraging or trying to promote war cannot be more neutral asking it you know we're gonna create a policy we're gonna allow it but it almost seems like it's trying to. Push the idea of remote work so I guess my question is is is is trying to get everybody who could possibly be a remote worker to become a remote worker and what do you see as the how many employees are we talking about would be in in your mind remote workers you know ten percent twenty percent do you have any ideas there are some states that actually I mean if you look at I'm trying to think of which state it was it's in the in my information here that required thirty percent by a certain date to work from your number mostly and that might even be working two days a week at home in three days in office again lots of flexibility there I don't want to set that number what works and DFA is very different than what might work in DHS very different than what might work in commerce and I don't think we need to set that number the one thing that I do like about this is that it will allow us conduct to continue to be engaged on this topic because it does require some reporting mechanism back to this agent to it back to this agency back to state agencies Committee so that we can have an idea of how is this really working and what are those numbers and what are the situations so we can problem solve and make sure that we're all on the same page. Recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair representative Mayberry I am sure that I just missed you saying that I was trying to read so if I did I apologize that is can you explain a little bit how this will work in terms of costs so if there costs associated with working remotely whether that's you know equipment all that stuff will there be any increased cost to the state as a result of that work I don't think there would be any increased cost again because that would be worked out between the agency if you look at the bill I make it to the right thing. Say. Sturch. An example all this is saying is that you have to detail the process and requirements between the employer and the employee regarding hi hi speed internet telecommunications with the state agency you know I mean there could be some cost with that supplying internet but that would be up to the state agency to figure out is this a cost worthwhile. The questions from committee members. You may be a day I have a question did you say that there's a certain percentage for example if it's a state agency is there a certain number of people that would be allowed to work remotely are what was your testimony only I'm sorry I did not mean to confuse that that is not in this bill I said there are some states that have required you know that they're hoping by a I think twenty twenty five that they would have thirty percent of their employees working remotely by that point that is not in this I'm not setting any requirement I'm just saying that we need to recognize that this is an issue it's great for retention and recruitment of employees and if it works and their agency we want to make sure that there is clear guidelines to help them and the employees so that there's no miscommunication and that we have a buy in from our legislators saying you know yes we we. We agree with this and and hopefully we get some return on investment from this we get better employees and maybe we lose some office space that's a another benefit of this that there might be some offices that are vacated because we have shared space or something like that so so make sure I understand there's no cap on the number of people that in the state agency that could work remotely so. a person okay I approved improper roster approved by the Department head all remotely is that would that be allow this is that what you're saying that's kind of how it would be right now even without this bill. I mean even without this bill the state agency can do whatever they want I'm just saying that with this bill were allowing for clear communication from the the agency and the employee and that it does allow us as legislators to keep an eye on what that is because there's some reporting that would be required with that so we would know what those numbers are okay representative Crawford recognized for a question. I'll wait for statement when we close thank you. Representative very recognized for a question thank you Mr chairman and representative Mayberry As a former cabinet secretary and tell you this created some tremendous challenges for folks not working in the office and and it comes down to when you start allowing three four people or more to work from home then you have three or four others come in and go on Wall why can I work at home you know they're getting a work at home then you end up with labor disputes and so forth but I guess more than anything I haven't seen anything on how the cabinet secretaries feel about this and we're just handed twenty pages of data with a lot of numbers I'm not the brightest bulb in the chandelier but it's very difficult for me to look at two handouts to twenty pages and I wasn't on state agencies last time so with that being said to be very difficult for me to support this bill until I have a opportunity to digest some of the research if you presented the. the Committee thank you thank you Mr. Hi yes. Thank you Mr chair was cited for closing that I think I need to speak now. I have learned first hand by watching my work remotely who was very. Almost depressed in a corporate setting with a Cubicle and all that goes with that city's been home his Morales up his work ethic has always been good he's always blown the other people away on twenty thousand that type deal so I would would you agree that in this process that it helps mental health of people rather than having to do the rat race to do the job they're paid to do just in a different location and then would you agree that if it doesn't work at home then the employer has the right to pull that person back in the office and just say it didn't work for them would you agree with that I would agree with all that and that very much is in here all I'm trying to do our a lot of our agencies are already doing remote work so if you're against remote work then you know we're gonna tell all the agencies they can't do it because a lot of of understood that that's how they're going to be able to keep and retain their employees so all I'm asking is that we are in good communication is legislators and keeping a check on it to make sure that the remote work that we're getting the productivity that we expect out of it and that there is clear communication on how that works so that we aren't picking and choosing you know well I like this person and I don't like this person there is a policy in place that everybody can go back to and look at and say this is it's not based on personality it's based on the job and what the job entails and that's why I think we need this piece of legislation so that we're all on the same page. Thank you. Read. Is there any state agencies in the rooms if you could come to the end of the table we have some questions for you. Anyone here representing a state agency. Yes. Thank you care to have a seat at the end of the table and just a. In a by yourself prostate age U. within the few questions of Graham Sloan from the ethics commission and didn't come over here speak for against this but I'll be happy to. Rations okay director verify yourself I'm sorry. Director com channel the state crime laboratory okay. My name is Chris medicine on the legal counsel for the state board of election commissioners thank you. Good morning members my name is Shelby Johnson I'm the director of the GIS office okay Preciado coming. Representatives were recognized for a question thank you chairman and I'm not against this bill but I just didn't want to give a chance if if you all have read this is there anything that we. That we can amended if that that if you all have looked at it of that you have a problem with the that we can make it better I'm I mean of I don't even know if you all have read the bill of but that that's that's the main thing I would want to do is I do want to put our secretaries and people that are run in a in a precarious situation if there's something we can do on the front end to make this bill better of fire departments. In any of you that have read it of. If you see anything that you're if you're concerned about let's put it that way yes Sir I read it and not concerned and appreciate that it's permissive and and put the structure in place of that's permissive to to be able to allow some. commonality across the department's. This government channel and obviously my side discount do much work remotely however I have support staff subpoena coordinators you know that can we allow it when necessary based on family circumstance I do like the idea of having some form and structure to that so we're not cherry picking who can do it who cannot but I have found that if the beneficiary beneficial to our agency in certain positions. Chris Madison and while I will represent the state board the state board has not taken a position on this particular legislation saw speaking solely as an employee in this. Manner I have read this bill it actually discuss it with representative here I think it is a solid bill I think that it serves the purpose of establishing a statewide policy that allows the agencies to determine the best allocation of the resources that allows for the balance between the employees need and the employee orders need at our agency we have a work from home policy that one day a week and we rotate the office so that there's one day I'm get to work from home on a Thursday or the next week it's a Friday we alternate the office it works quite well and functionally my job as the attorney for the state board I need to phone the computer and I know Pat and I can do that anywhere and it's it I I am a strong proponent of this and quite frankly I think it as far as the retention aspect of it if that went away I would consider looking for other places where I would have the opportunity to continue doing what I'm doing. Questions from committee members. It share with I'm sorry House figure give some for Mr Sloan and. Eight he gently tells you what you did wrong but well before areas so let the man speak that you wanted to. I appreciated the. Some of the work at the ethics commission does lend itself quite well to remote you know if you're going online and reviewing filings and we had a long term employee that I used to say when somebody came down there they could talk to me the person in charge or or the person knew what was going on and she she had gone out of state moved back she didn't live in little rock and so she's working remotely and that's working out very well and we're happy to have her back in you know in her works getting done is getting done what else of I mean it's it's a useful tool and. Is from my perspective recognized or anyway I thank you all this very helpful I I do sometimes we don't we passed bills without asking the pope to the fix but but I've I've got a pretty good consensus and I and I appreciate all the input on this thank you thank you Mr chairman thank you the gentleman thank you for your testimony. The mobile have stated in the table. I have another question representative make sure recognized. Thank you Mr chairman and I think the gentleman the end of the table already answered this but remote work is already happening in place and all your bill is doing is putting guardrails in place on that policy across the state that could correct characterization thank you I have a motion at the proper time as chairman. Committee members. The results you're recognized for a question thank you Mr So I think we've established that state agencies can already do this if they if they choose to they want to do it if it would if it fits with with their employees and the agency my only issue with this bill would be that we are requiring every agency to now set up a remote work policy even if it doesn't work for them if they haven't decided to participate I think I'm okay with I'm okay with the reporting to the legislature I think it's our job to have you know some oversight over these agencies but it. It does concern me that we're requiring everyone of them to have a remote work policy can can you help me get over that well I I mean first of I can't imagine that there is an agency out there that doesn't have a position or to somewhere that could benefit from this but I don't know if it does I mean maybe they're remote work policies that they don't have that they don't allow it for that particular division So I guess that would be my answer it's hard to answer every single scenario but I a I believe that we need to have something in place. If you can. Yes I agree that it's hard to answer every member scenario and that's that's precisely why I have a problem with that they shall establish a policy because we can address that I think we we should leave it up to the agencies rather or not they they decide to have a remote work policy I said I'm I'm okay with the reporting so that they do but I just don't feel like we should force them to do that well let let let me let me point out the exact words here because it says shall okay so it says on page to each agency shall. turning to page three establish a policy under which eligible employees of the state agency may be authorized to perform remote work and notice it says may be authorized to perform remote work if there is an agency that every single employee must be in there than their policy. Under under that could be. There is no remote work period. You need to follow up representative. Okay any further questions from committee members. But it just got you have a question. I I'm not against this bill I do have a question sorry can I speak to speak. Question yes there if you have a question yes you're recognized for a question if you're going to speak against the ballot yes it. I have a question you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair sorry for the confusion of miss Mayberry is there anyway I don't want to hold up your bill because I'm not against it on the Senate in would you be willing to add that exact language that you said when representative my. Representative Gonzalez that that that. Basically I agency has the ability to put that remote work is not allowed. Just clarity I don't I think some people can read it and think they have to put that they don't have that option. Federation I I just would like to kind of hear maybe what department would not have a single employee whatsoever they could benefit from this and how the way that it's currently written makes a difference because I see it as if if there is no no one whatsoever who could work remotely that would be their policy because it says establish a policy under which eligible employees of the state may be authorized to perform remote work determine the eligibility for all employees of the state agency including critical need employees to prove to participate in remote work and some of this remote work you have to keep in mind it could actually be that okay there is a an ice storm and people can't get to work that day so what is available that day can you still work remotely maybe. Ninety nine percent of the time you're supposed to be in the office but now there is a an ice storm and you if you know we still need you to work we're going to allow you to work from home on those ice storm Days there's no power at the capitol for whatever reason we lose power here and you can't work from here so in those emergency situations we will allow you to work from home I think that those are also policies that would have to be considered even if you think every employee needs to be physically in the office every day and that would allow for that to be very clear. Well during the pandemic I manage close to thirty people and my other job and remote work wasn't something that kind of works for everybody I understand that but I did see some other departments who they had to be an office maybe for. They don't have the security that they need at home with the internet for the the privacy information that is actually on the work the work Sir for the work that you're doing so some positions really didn't allow for you to work at home because of those reasons and some do so there are some departments where I really feel like if you collect in taxes but most people had to come to the building they can process this the during covid not at at the county if that makes sense so I'm just thinking of just my personal experience supervising during the pandemic I'm not against remote work but I did have some people in my department who had to come to work every day because of their work and some people who they had. Date position allow them to work remotely any idea because a lot of problems in my department just trying to manage that because some people don't understand it but it is the position and the position allows for them to work remotely again you have to go through all kinds of other stuff but I'm just trying to share what and and that's why I think that you know a bill like this is needed because obviously when the pandemic have it no one was prepared for that. I mean everyone was sent home and you're trying to figure out how do you make all this work but if we have clear guidelines and we can plan in advance so that there's not miscommunication and we also know what positions work well from home and what people work well from home there are just some people that work better from home than others I agree thank you bill. One final question permittee what about the citizens of that you know what I read up on state agencies they expect to have an interaction with someone there and and this remote policy concerns me a little bit to the point that you know if those people are present and people were asking and you know there's a we lose a lot and I think this is the state when they walk into those buildings they expect to have an interaction in a member look someone in the eye and discuss their concerns and the how would you address that concern well again that would be laid out by that that particular at head of that agency would be able to say no it you you have a secretarial position you're the greeter at the door when someone comes in you need to be there people actually come into this office and see you but we have a lot of positions that hardly ever deal with the public one on one and I'm not saying I'm I'm saying this is already taking place. We need to have a policy in place so we're all on the same page I don't think everybody needs to work from home and that's not what this bill does. Say no no one signed up to speak for against the bill. representative may be recognized closing your bill. I appreciate a good vote represented Mayberry is closed for the bill that I understand representative makes you have a motion at the proper time that motion is. I have a motion of a do pass. I have a motion of no pass any discussion on the motion represent to cover you're recognized discussion on the motion thank you Mr chairman I just want to reiterate on the Problems of security I know were my son works that a sign into a certain. Secure server to do their work and in some cases corporations will bring the computers in and all the hardware however he is responsible for is on the internet so there are many different scenarios in this case but I believe it's a great policy going forward for actually the office space area because they've been able to hire younger people. coming out of college to sit at the desk he used to set up and he is still created loads of money from home for that corporation and there are security things in place so I think this is a good bill and I would I will be voting yes on this bill thank you. The property is broken on the motion representative more you're recognized speak on the motion. Thank you Mr chair I just think it's pretty wild that we have state a state employees that are. Using remote work right now and we don't know if they're being held accountable or not and that's not a sign of criticism of the current structure I just think from my perspective we want to check and balance to make sure that those state employees are using their time that we're paying for and a wise and just manner thank you. Representative has spoken. In one it was paid. A motion. Seven nine we have a motion of a do pass all in favor say aye. As a resolution that was passed. Thank you members. Next on today's agenda is house bill fourteen forty four representative Bradley. Same in the audience next on today's agenda is. The House Miller fourteen sixty one representative Ladyman. Not here we'll pass over next item on today's agenda is fourteen sixty nine representative one. Here. Committee members thank you for that appreciated this meeting is adjourned.