SB3720 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 20821 RCE 36587 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB3720

Introduced 2/11/2010, by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Work 4 Savings Initiative Act. Requires the Governor to establish a 4-day work week for full-time State employees of agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor. Requires 10-hour work days. Sets forth exemptions. Assigns duties to the Department of Central Management Services. Contains other provisions.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Work 4 Savings Initiative Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that State government should strive to become the model employer of qualified people, conserve energy for taxpayers and employees, reduce traffic congestion, provide to the public extended hours of access to government services, and create incentives for the use of the Internet to access State services.

Section 10. Internet access to services. The Department of Central Management Services shall work with State agencies to develop incentives for the use of the Internet to access state services.

Section 15. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Department" means the Department of Central Management Services.

"Director" means the Director of Central Management Services.

"State agency" means any authority, board, department, instrumentality, institution, agency, or other unit of State government under the jurisdiction of the Governor.

"State employee" means any person who is regularly employed full-time on a salaried basis and whose compensation is payable, no more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, by the State.

Section 20. Mandatory 4-day work week program; responsibility of Governor.

(a) Implementation of a 4-day work week program is mandatory for all State agencies. The Governor shall, by executive order, direct State agencies to implement the 4-day work week program within such time and manner as directed in the executive order, not to exceed 60 days after the issuance of the executive order.

(b) The Governor may rescind the executive order requiring implementation of the 4-day work week program upon specific authorization of the General Assembly by adoption of the same joint resolution.

Section 25. Duties of the Department. The Department shall:

(1) Establish and implement a program in accordance with this Act that requires State employees to work a 4-day work week consisting of 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, the impact of which is fiscally neutral and keeps State employee annual holiday leave accrual whole. For the purposes of this item (1), federal or State holidays that occur Monday through Thursday of any week shall be counted in that week toward one of the 4 work days.

(2) Assist State agency heads in implementing the program established by the Department, including but not limited to ensuring State employees have sufficient opportunity to make adjustments to their personal schedules, such as child or adult care, as appropriate.

(3) Establish a toll-free "Work 4 Savings Initiative" telephone hotline and Internet website to provide information to the public about operational hours and online capabilities for State government services.

(4) Monitor the impact of the 4-day work week program on (i) cost savings to the State in terms of energy consumption and transportation costs and (ii) recruitment and retention of qualified State employees.

(5) Report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the implementation of the program, including data on any cost savings to the State and its employees, and any recommendations to improve the program.

Section 30. Exemptions. The provisions of this Act do not apply to:

(1) Public institutions of higher education or other State-operated educational facilities and libraries.

(2) The operation of State lottery games.

(3) Public museums and other State-operated cultural centers and public parks.

(4) Highway maintenance and construction and the operation of traffic control facilities, emergency operation centers, and toll facilities or ferries.

(5) Any transportation agency or authority directly engaged in the transport of the public.

(6) The Illinois National Guard or its armories as required.

(7) The Department of Corrections in the operation of State correctional facilities involving direct interaction with the prison population.

(8) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

(9) The Department of State Police, including crime and forensic laboratories.

(10) Conservation officers of the Department of Natural Resources.

(11) State-operated medical centers, hospitals, emergency rooms, and health clinics.

(12) The judiciary and those personnel in the Office of the Attorney General who must interact with the judiciary on Fridays.

(13) State elected officials, constitutional officers, and their personal staff with obligations to be available to the citizens of the State.

(14) The Governor and his or her personal staff and agency heads and their personal staff, when the Governor determines their presence is required to conduct official business.

(15) Any non-State employee who provides contracted services to any State agency, unless the contract is amended to facilitate the "Work 4 Savings Initiative".

(16) Any standing emergency maintenance or information technology response operation designed to repair or correct State infrastructure in support of State operations that must occur on Fridays.

(17) Any facility, including utilities, information technology centers, domestic animal or wildlife shelters or hatcheries, and food service storage or processing centers, that requires essential daily maintenance, attendance, or care that otherwise cannot be serviced through emergency response or reduced manning operations.