Local Food Production - WA 2008 Session Law

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6483
Chapter 215, Laws of 2008
60th Legislature
2008 Regular Session
LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 FINDINGS AND INTENT. (1) The legislature recognizes that the benefits of local food production include stewardship of working agricultural lands; direct and indirect jobs in agricultural production, food processing, tourism, and support industries; energy conservation and greenhouse gas reductions; and increased food security through access to locally grown foods.
(2) The legislature finds there is a direct correlation between adequate nutrition and a child's development and school performance. Children who are hungry or malnourished are at risk of lower achievement in school.
(3) The legislature further finds that adequate nutrition is also necessary for the physical health of adults, and that some communities have limited access to healthy fruits and vegetables and quality meat and dairy products, a lack of which may lead to high rates of diet-related diseases.
(4) The legislature believes that expanding market opportunities for Washington farmers will preserve and strengthen local food production and increase the already significant contribution that agriculture makes to the state and local economies.
(5) The legislature finds that the state's existing procurement requirements and practices may inhibit the purchase of locally produced food.
(6) The legislature intends that the local farms-healthy kids act strengthen the connections between the state's agricultural industry and the state's food procurement procedures in order to expand local agricultural markets, improve the nutrition of children and other at-risk consumers, and have a positive impact on the environment.

RCW 70.23 - Limiting Green House Gas Emissions

Chapter 70.235 RCW Limiting greenhouse gas emissions

Complete Chapter

RCW Sections

70.235.005	Findings -- Intent.
70.235.010	Definitions.
70.235.020	Greenhouse gas emissions reductions -- Reporting requirements.
70.235.030	Development of a design for a regional multisector market-based system to limit and reduce emissions of greenhouse gas -- Information required to be submitted to the legislature.
70.235.040	Consultation with climate impacts group at the University of Washington -- Report to the legislature.
70.235.900	Scope of chapter 14, Laws of 2008.
70.235.901	Severability -- 2008 c 14.

RCW 70.235.005
Findings -- Intent.

(1) The legislature finds that Washington has long been a national and international leader on energy conservation and environmental stewardship, including air quality protection, renewable energy development and generation, emission standards for fossil-fuel based energy generation, energy efficiency programs, natural resource conservation, vehicle emission standards, and the use of biofuels. Washington is also unique among most states in that in addition to its commitment to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, it has established goals to grow the clean energy sector and reduce the state's expenditures on imported fuels.

(2) The legislature further finds that Washington should continue its leadership on climate change policy by creating accountability for achieving the emission reductions established in RCW 70.235.020, participating in the design of a regional multisector market-based system to help achieve those emission reductions, assessing other market strategies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and ensuring the state has a well trained workforce for our clean energy future.

(3) It is the intent of the legislature that the state will: (a) Limit and reduce emissions of greenhouse gas consistent with the emission reductions established in RCW 70.235.020; (b) minimize the potential to export pollution, jobs, and economic opportunities; and (c) reduce emissions at the lowest cost to Washington's economy, consumers, and businesses.

(4) In the event the state elects to participate in a regional multisector market-based system, it is the intent of the legislature that the system will become effective by January 1, 2012, after authority is provided to the department for its implementation. By acting now, Washington businesses and citizens will have adequate time and opportunities to be well positioned to take advantage of the low-carbon economy and to make necessary investments in low-carbon technology.

(5) It is also the intent of the legislature that the regional multisector market-based system recognize Washington's unique emissions portfolio, including the state's hydroelectric system, the opportunities presented by Washington's abundant forest resources and agriculture land, and the state's leadership in energy efficiency and the actions it has already taken that have reduced its generation of greenhouse gas emissions and that entities receive appropriate credit for early actions to reduce greenhouse gases.

(6) If any revenues that accrue to the state are created by a market system, they must be used to further the state's efforts to achieve the goals established in RCW 70.235.020, address the impacts of global warming on affected habitats, species, and communities, and increase investment in the clean energy economy particularly for communities and workers that have suffered from heavy job losses and chronic unemployment and underemployment.

[2008 c 14 § 1.]

Thoughts on Final Paper

Try this on as an approach:

I'm writing a policy brief for a Washington State legislator, or the Secretary of Agriculture, who wonders how Washington State Agriculture could contribute to reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions. (Constituents calling for change, or the Governor asking the Dept of Ag how state agriculture can contribute to GHG and energy reductions)

Paper Title:

• Reducing the U.S. food system's contribution to energy consumption and GHG emissions

The Problem:

• The U.S. food system accounts for close to 16% of total U.S. energy use (Brodt). US Agriculture accounts for 7% of all US GHG emissions. (EPA GHG Inventory 1990-2004, and Crosby PPT) That is a cost to energy independence and GHG emissions that we don't want to pay. What alternatives do we have to reduce the US food system's contribution to energy use and GHG emissions? - Consider: reduce food miles; optimize efficiencies of household appliances; societal shift to a more plant-based diet and away from animal foods; change consumption habits with energy/GHG labeling;
• "The increased level and volatility of agricultural prices is negatively impacting the purchasing power and the food security of the poor (von Braun 2007). If the global community does not invest massively to confront the challenges posed by climate change and high energy prices, the social and economic costs will be large." (von Braun)
  

Framework for thinking about/organizing alternatives

Major areas of energy use:

• production of fertilizers
• irrigation
• transportation

Food System Life Cycle Stages: (Heller & Keoleian, 2000)

• origin of (genetic) resource
  
• agricultural growing and production
  
• food processing, packaging and distribution
• preparation and consumption
• end of life
  

Selected Solution Alternatives:

• Promote/support local farmers and farming
  
• Promotion of "buy local" programs (Maryland doc)
• Support, enforce, and fund existing laws such as Washington State's Chapter 215, Laws of 2008 - Local Food Production
• improved energy efficiency and crop yields (von Braun)
• Implementation of Precision Farming Techniques (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Promote Anaerobic Digestion (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Incentivise Agricultural Carbon Management (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Development of Potential Offsets Related to Conservation and Grazing Lands (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• "Allowing agricultural producers to claim offsets not only by reducing nitrogen use but also by displacing synthetic fertilizers with organic soil amendments derived from biomass resources." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
  
• "Allowing a range of soil amendments derived from biomass sources to count as offsets when used to replace synthetic fertilizers." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
• Don't promote Biofuels from non-cellulosic materials (von Braun)
• Promote production of biofuels from lingo-cellulosic materials and wastes through research (von Braun)
• improved fertilization techniques (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Promote Climate-Friendly Farming practices (Crosby PPT)
• Encourage no-till/strip-till practices (CCX faq)
• changes in tillage (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
  
• improvements in livestock feed can also reduce methane emissions (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture (See Pew) ["Sequestering carbon on farmland could create a 'new crop' for farmers, who could earn money by trading their carbon offsets with industry."] (also recommended by von Braun)
• Farmers who keep carbon in the ground could sell carbon credits to businesses (Crosby PPT). The could increase farm in come by 10% (CCX faq).
  
• Promote Preservation of agricultural land to increase carbon sequestration potential (Maryland report)
• AW-7 Preservation of Open Space/Agricultural Land - http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/interimreport/122107_TWG_agr.pdf
  
• Reduce Nitrous Oxide emissions ("nitrous oxide emissions, primarily from agricultural practices, contribute about 6 percent to the state’s greenhouse gas pollution." Oregon Plan to reduce GHG)
  

Candidate Solution Alternatives:

• Carbon labeling
• tolls on large food transport vehicles
• Promote/support local farmers and farming
  
• Promotion of "buy local" programs (Maryland doc)
• Support, enforce, and fund existing laws such as Washington State's Chapter 215, Laws of 2008 - Local Food Production
• improved energy efficiency and crop yields (von Braun)
• Implementation of Precision Farming Techniques (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Promote Anaerobic Digestion (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• Incentivise Agricultural Carbon Management (WaTAG Climate Advisory Team - Carbon Offsets report)
• "Allowing agricultural producers to claim offsets not only by reducing nitrogen use but also by displacing synthetic fertilizers with organic soil amendments derived from biomass resources." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
  
• "Allowing a range of soil amendments derived from biomass sources to count as offsets when used to replace synthetic fertilizers." 9/08 climate comments to agtag
• Don't promote Biofuels from non-cellulosic materials (von Braun)
• Promote production of biofuels from lingo-cellulosic materials and wastes through research (von Braun)
• Change consumer behavior "We suggest that the most effective opportunities to enhance the sustainability of the food system exist in changing consumption behavior, which will have compounding benefits across agricultural production, distribution and food disposition stages." (Heller & Keoleian, 2000)

Energy and GHG Reductions

• improved fertilization techniques (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Promote Climate-Friendly Farming practices (Crosby PPT)
• Encourage no-till/strip-till practices (CCX faq)
  

Principally GHG Reductions

• changes in tillage (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
  
• improvements in livestock feed can also reduce methane emissions (McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative)
• Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture (See Pew) ["Sequestering carbon on farmland could create a 'new crop' for farmers, who could earn money by trading their carbon offsets with industry."] (also recommended by von Braun)
• Farmers who keep carbon in the ground could sell carbon credits to businesses (Crosby PPT). The could increase farm in come by 10% (CCX faq).
  
• Promote Preservation of agricultural land to increase carbon sequestration potential (Maryland report)
  
• Reduce Nitrous Oxide emissions ("nitrous oxide emissions, primarily from agricultural practices, contribute about 6 percent to the state’s greenhouse gas pollution." Oregon Plan to reduce GHG)
  

Things to think about:

• Biofuels crops ‘may speed global warming’ - http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article141360.ece - http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/11191/2007/acpd-7-11191-2007.pdf

• "Assisting the OFP is the Farmland Preservation Task Force. Created as part of the OFP, the Governor appointed Task Force consists of 18 members from around the state who have been meeting regularly since December of 2007 to explore issues relating to the decline in agricultural lands and make recommendations for the retention of these lands and for the economic viability of working lands." http://ofp.scc.wa.gov/index.php/preservation-news
  

Other Problems:

• food prices continue to rise beyond the reach of many people
• increasing food miles contribute to energy consumption and global warming
• Current agricultural practices cannot sustain current agricultural output

Alternatives for Reducing Food Miles at the National Level

• Carbon labeling
• tolls on large food transport vehicles
• Promote/support local farmers and farming
• Promotion of "buy local" programs
  

Resources

• Assessment of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Food System: A Literature Review - Sonja Brodt
• Brodt's 16% comes from Hendrickson, J. 1996. Energy Use in the U.S. Food System: A Summary of Existing Research and Analysis. Madison, WI: Univ. of Wisconsin, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.
• Heller and Keoleian (2000). "Life Cycle-Based Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the U.S. Food System” http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS00-04.pdf
• EPA U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Archive
  
• FCRN Research Library
• Policygap - between GHG reduction and energy reductions - Minnesota agriculture contributes roughly 14% of state GHG emissions
• Australian GHG Report -McKinsey Australia Climate Change Initiative - Title: An Australian Cost Curve for Greenhouse Gas Reduction
• GOOD LIST OF ALTERNATIVES - Maryland Climate action document - Maryland Climate Action Plan: Greenhouse Gas & Carbon Mitigation Working Group: Policy Option Documents
• Globalization of the food supply - UK
• Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Times of High Energy Prices - Joachim von Braun - Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington D.C., USA
• Good resource for food policy papers - IFPIRI
• Washington ECY - targets as of 12/07 - Agriculture Sector Technical Work Group Policy Option Recommendations
• Wa Climate Advisory Team - AgTWG - GHG mitigation options as of 11/5/08
• WA Bill on GHG targets/options agTWG report - ENGROSSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2815, Chapter 14, Laws of 2008, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
• Wa AgTWG charter
• Incentivising Agricultural Carbon Management - Recommendations for the Development of Agricultural Sector Carbon Offsets in Washington State - October 2008
• September 2008 Climate Comments to Ag TWG
• Wa Gov EXECUTIVE ORDER 07-02 WASHINGTON CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE
• 
  

Notes:

• At least in New Mexico, the Secretary of Agriculture sits on the Governor/State's Climate Action Council (NM Gov Executive Order)

Carbon Offsets Benefits
From CCX carbon offsets FAQ

• Q: Does provision of global environmental services by agriculture through GHG mitigation hold significant potential for economic opportunity and rural development?
• A: Yes. While agriculture likely will continue to be a modest part of the total share of the total GHG mitigation portfolio, the economic potential is significant. Estimates suggest that contribution of a full suite of agricultural GHG mitigation options raise net farm income by 10% or more, while helping reduce income variability and enhancing the ability to adapt to climate change.
• The Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association project is already part of the exchange portfolio of projects
• "Current farm policy does not reward farmers who use no-till, or for that matter any other method of conservation tillage."

Carbon Offsets for WA Farmers - http://www.directseed.org/carbontrading.html - http://ucanr.org/spotlight/carbonparking.shtml

Presidential Candidate Views on Agricultural Policy

Search Terms: "mccain and obama agriculture policy"
Grist environmental news and commentary - comparison of policies

Merced

McClatchy

Obama's Rural Plan Fact Sheet

McCain's Ag Policy

The 20th Century Transformation of U.S. Agriculture and Farm Policy

Sustainable Agriculture Topics

WSU report

http://www.globalissues.org/article/7/causes-of-hunger-are-related-to-poverty

The Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network
Future of Farming Process
Goal from the process paper:
"Improve in-state transportation of food products. We would like to see a fuel-efficient in-state food distribution network that supports increased consumption of WA-grown products, ensures farmers and ranchers a fair price and includes distribution to wholesale, retail, institutional markets and hunger abatement programs throughout the state. The distribution system will utilize electric and hybrid technology, and an improved rail system for long distance hauling."

Stats and problem statement for the world situation - FAO.org (UN Food and Agriculture Org)

Olympia resolution to reduce energy use in the city to reduce global warming
Olympia report on sustainability looked at consumption of locally grown food using Olympia farmers market as a benchmark - on the assumption that the more locally grown and sold food, the lower the transportation costs. - buying locally leads to decreased fuel consumption.


Toronto proposal to fund Urban agriculture as a way to reduce food transportation costs

Finish Study on cost of food transport and ways to reduce it - "The passport could be used in
marketing to show the energy efficiency of local produce."

UK study
Further evidence documenting the environmental impact of remote food production,
processing and transportation can be found in:
Böge, S. (1993) Road transport of goods and the effects on the spatial environment condensed
version. Wuppertal Institute.

How can we ensure healthy foods remain affordable as fuel prices rise?
"Fresh produce is more sensitive to increases in production, transport and storage costs and thus the price of these products has been rising fastest."

VTPI again - Farming and Food Distribution (Pirog, et al, 2001)
Explains the cost of food transportation milage on global warming, increased road use
(uses concept of Food Miles Traveled - Vehicle miles Traveled)
Link to Pirog article for Iowa

Article from Texas DOT on Food Miles Traveled
The argument: Food Miles Traveled are too high and contribute to road congestion, pollution, increased food costs, road repair costs. It's something we can reduce with tolling and local sourcing of food.

Food miles traveled is increasing according to Pirog in above link as referenced in Transportation and Food: The Importance of Access which offers some solutions and a list of stakeholders.

National Resource Defense Council on food miles

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - good resource for food miles definitions and solutions to reduce

"The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is a statewide organization of farmers and nonfarm citizens who support policies to enhance the long-term sustainability of California agriculture." CAFF in letter to CA Air Resources Board

Good report from DEFRA in UK on food miles as indicator of sustainable development

Wa State Farm Bureau new report on food miles

Really good source of stats about food miles from ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
"The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) released a report in 2005, which determined that food miles alone are not a valid indicator of the sustainability of the food system. In some cases, reducing food miles may reduce energy use, but there may be other social, environmental or economic trade-offs. The consequences of food transport are complex and require a group of indicators to determine the global impact of food miles.(13)"

Policy Brief from The Oakland Institute about reducing food miles with the suggestion that establishing regional distribution and retail model would reduce food miles.

Reference to Cornell study indicating type of food more important than food miles in reducing GHG.

Retaining and Recruiting Qualified IT Staff

Search terms: magnitude of the problem of retaining qualified IT information technology staff

Problem:
Situation: state agencies have trouble keeping and recruting qualified IT staff
Cost: projects don't get done, go long, fail, increasing budgets and reducing products leading to lower efficiency of state government

What are some possible steps state government can take to hire and keep qualified IT staff?

• DOP report on aging has tips for retaining experienced workers - scheduling flexibility,
  telecommuting, assignment or career changes, leave options, and downshifting
• Paper from Universities with IT staffing problems
• Telecommuting mentioned as a way to retain workers in Rhode Island report

Resources:

• Solutions and Strategies For IT Recruitment and Retention: A Manager''s Guide.(Statistical Data Included) - Publication: Public Personnel Management - Publication Date: 22-MAR-02 [[[this article might help define the size of the problem]]]
  
• 
  

Preparation for Stakeholder Analysis Paper

Do an analysis of stakeholders for telework policy:

• Who promotes telework policy and why
• Who stands to benefit from telework policy
• Who will bear some cost for telework implementatons

Stakeholders in general

• any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organization's objectives
  
• persons, groups, and organizations that I need to take into account - those with the power to change the course of the policy and those without power, but still affected
  

Telework stakeholders by role

• security staff who have concerns about the security of worker information on devices at remote locations (US DOPersonnel 2007 Telework Report challenges in message from director)
• Chief Human Capital Officers Council (US DOPersonnel 2007 Telework Report)
• telework as a human capital tool (US DOPersonnel 2007 Telework Report)
• emergency planning groups - pandemic planning, continuity of operations
  
• managers who have concerns about tracking and managing workers in remote locations
• issues identified in DOP 2007 report: human capital, emergency planning, and quality of life
• IT Budget people (see Figure 1 in DOP 2007 - barriers to telework)
• IT manufacturing, consulting, telecommunications providers
  
• State tax policy analysts (see multi-state taxation of telecommuters article)
• Homeshoring - see VIPdesk sponsor of the telework coalition who promotes telecommuting as a way to reduce the cost of employing workers in the US so the companies don't have to Off-shore their work - keep the work on-shore in home.
• See stakeholder list in California's telecommuting pilot project
  

CTPP definition of stakeholders
Primary "Those who are or can be immediately or directly affected by telecommuting."

• telecommuters themselves
• their direct supervisors
• their families and colleagues
• the organizations in which they work
• the organizations with which they work
• organized labor groups
• State government in general

Secondary "Those who have a broad or indirect interest in some of the impacts, such as air quality, energy use, zoning, the economy, management techniques, etc."

• communities in which telecommuters live and/or work
• various agencies of government at the local, state and national levels (in the U.S. as well as in other countries)
• manufacturers and the distribution channels for information technologies and office equipment
• the business community
• the research community
• consumer advocacy
• other special interest groups

Stakeholders - specific groups

• The Telework Coalition - telecommunications provides, companies that sell systems to help manage at-home workers.
• AlpineAccess (see TelCoa) seems to promote telework on the behalf of employees because AlpineAccess is based on a work-at-home model and can attract employees with better telework policies
• JALA - the people who defined the term telecommuting
  

Benefits

• improved moral - DOP 2007
• human capital - DOP 2007
• transportation - DOP 2007
• productivity - DOP 2007
• leave - DOP 2007
• real estate savings - DOP 2007

Stakeholder's and the reasons they give to continue telecommuting

• 
  

• Nicole Belson Goluboff, in the multi-state taxation article, offers these reasons why taxaton policy should change: "reduce real estate and energy costs, attract top talent from a nationwide applicant pool while lowering recruitment costs and reduce turnover costs."
• Goluboff considers these groups stakeholders: "stakeholders outside Congress, including telework, taxpayer, small business and homeowner advocates"
• 
  

Perspectives/narrowing

• look at different levels (or one) of government - city, regional, county, state, federal - stakeholder types (and individuals) will likely differ depending on level of government
  
• Here is another angle to the "problem domain" for telecommuting - Congress is considering legislation regulating taxation of telecommutes when they live and telecommute in one location, but have an employer in another state - states can tax them twice (sloan work and family research network) - the problem from this perspective is not how teleworking can contribute to solving traffic problems, or reducing gas consumption - it's about how to make tecommuting policy work in a fair way [multi-state taxation of telecommuters article]
  

Alternatives policy strategies for achieving telecommuting transportation goals of reducing VMT (Vehicle miles traveled)

• For Telework to provide significant vehicle travel reductions it must be implemented in conjunction with other TDM strategies that provide an incentive to reduce driving, such as Commute Financial Incentives, Road Pricing, Parking Pricing, Parking Management, Distance-Based Fees, Pay As You Drive Insurance and Fuel Tax Increases. (Victoria Transportation Policy Institute VTPI)
• Telework is often promoted by TDM Programs, Commute Trip Reduction programs and Transportation Management Associations. It is most effective at achieving TDM objectives if matched with disincentives to drive, including and supported by Commute Financial Incentives, Road Pricing, Parking Pricing, Parking Management, Distance-Based Fees, and Fuel Tax Increases.

Possible side-effects of telework

• increases in non-commute trips (VTPI) (do special errands they would have done on their commute)
  
• land use dispersion/increased sprawl (VTPI) (because they travel less to work they can move further away)
• additional home heating or cooling expenses

Downsides

• security
• 
  

Other links:

• Berkely report
• Victoria Transport Policy Institute report (references to studies and Puget Sound programs)
• 
  

Structure of Telework Policy Final Paper Proposal

Problem

• increasing traffic on roads (find wadot stats on increasing commute time in puget sound as cited in NCSL article)
  
• increasing gas consumption
• continuing air quality problems and need of governments to meet air quality regulations or risk losing federal dollars
  
• maintaining economic viability and competitiveness
  
• - workers have a tough time reconciling work and family life (EFAT doc)
• - workers have too little autonomy in the workplace (EFAT doc)
  
• - disabled workers have a tough time getting hired (EFAT doc - how true is this?)
• - fewer work opportunities for rural, elderly, and disabled citizens (NCSL article)
  
• retaining employees
• real estate costs from maintaining buildings for office space
• maintaining productivity
• reducing absenteeism
  

• "With growing concerns for the well-being of the environment, the economy, and society, telecommuting has been put forth as a solution to all of our problems. " (Telecommuting Essay by Samantha Edwards)
• Some things are a constant challenge - how can one improve productivity, reduce costs, lower congestion on roads, reduce gas consumption,
• Increases in traffic congestion mean increases in transportation spending
• When states don't meet EPA guidelines, they lose federal funding (Opportunities for Policy Leadership on Telework and Telecommuting)
• "Rising gas prices, clogged roadways and increased worries about climate change" NCSL article
  

Extent of the problem:

• How many people telecommute now? (See UCDavis telecommuting study below)
• How has the number changed?
• Extent of the environmental problem that increased telework might solve
• Extent of the economic problem that ...
• Extent of the social problem that ...
• 
  

Why this a public policy issue

• Increases in telework could lead to decreases in "peak-period congestion, fuel consumption, and criteria pollutants due to the decrease in commute travel" and "employment of broader segments of the workforce and related economic development, strengthening families and local communities, reducing residential-area crime (through greater neighborhood monitoring by home-based workers), improving public health (through reduced exposure to traffic accidents and communicable diseases, as well as reduced stress), and offering a response to foreseen (e.g. the Olympics) or unforeseen major events affecting workplaces (e.g. the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, or a major fire or flood) or the transportation system (weather emergencies, earthquakes, major construction projects)." (UCDavis study, p. 5, para 2)
• telework policy has implications for the quality of public goods and public services
  

Goals of Telework policy:

• "The social partners see telework both as a way for companies and public service organisations to modernise work organisation, and as a way for workers to reconcile
  work and social life and giving them greater autonomy in the accomplishment of
  their tasks." European Framework Agreement on Telework (EFAT) - http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_dialogue/docs/300_20020716_agreement_telework_en.pdf
• "Encouraging telework is a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that promotes workplace efficiency and reduces strain on transportation infrastructure. It is incumbent on state government to support public and private sector efforts to promote widespread adoption of telework efforts." Virginial Office of Telework Promotion
  

Observations:

• Telework is a new form of work organization (EFAT, p. 1)
• Consider telework a "complex solution" (i.e., “a single intervention
  which is intended to solve many problems”; Salomon, 1998, p. 22) - UCDavis study
• Two groups I've seen so far - King county and GSA - implemented telework policies in response to local traffic closures (tunnels or bridges worked on that affect lots of locals)
• 
  

Questions:

• What is the status of the EFAT?
• What laws and rules does Washington currently have?

Policy Implementations

• Here is how King County implemented an incentive/grant program to promote telecommuting. I offers up to $5,000 worth of consulting services from a nationally known telework consulting firm
• Virginia created a special Office to promote Telework
  

Sources

• TELECOMMUTING: Will it change the organizationalstructure of business as we know it?Samantha A. Edwards: Literary Review samantha@nvrlnd.com Fall 1994 - http://www.teleworker.com/papers/telework.html
• 
  DATA AND MEASUREMENT ISSUES IN TRANSPORTATION, WITH
  TELECOMMUTING AS A CASE STUDY by Patricia L. Mokhtarian, Ilan Salomon, and Sangho Choo - http://www.its.ucdavis.edu/publications/2004/UCD-ITS-RR-04-29.pdf

Resources

• The Telework Coalition
• MRSC Washington
• commuterchallenge.org
• The originators of the term - JALA
  

Idea/Topic #2 for the final paper

Here is a second idea:

promotion of telework telecommuting as a public policy to reduce energy consumption

Virginia appears to consider this a public policy area/issue.

Promotion of teleworking as a public policy has connections to:

• reducing energy consumption
• reducing traffic congestion
• reduce office building energy costs
  
• possibly reducing/delaying state transportation costs
• improving air quality
• increasing employment for people with disabilities
• 
  

These are all areas/claims to test/challenge.

Questions

• I hear that some managers still have resistance to telework for their employees. How wide does this feeling spread? Why do they feel this way?
• How many states have laws or rules related to telework? What about Washington?
• What challenges/benefits have they found? What about Washington?
• How many eligible telecommute workers does Washington have? What is the definition of eligible?

Resources:

• California Legislative Analysts Office report for 2004
• Virtual exclusion and telework: Barriers and opportunities of technocentric workplace accommodation policy (From a google search with "telework policy framed in economic terms")
• An adoption model of telework for organizations
• Telework in Hungary

Idea/Topic #1 for the final paper

This is a site that came up from a google search on these words:

washington state information technology public policy challenges

http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/ and a press release asking state government to create a web site hosting an online searchable database of all tax rates in the state. With the site, state tax payers could identify the kinds of taxes they pay depending on their location in the various taxing districts of state.

Tags: transparency in government, taxes, IT, database