2.2-225.1 - (Expires July 1, 2018) Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance.
§ 2.2-225.1. (Expires July 1, 2018) Office of Telework Promotion andBroadband Assistance.
A. There is hereby established the Office of Telework Promotion and BroadbandAssistance in the office of the Secretary of Technology, consisting of adirector, appointed by the Secretary of Technology, and such additionaltelework and broadband professionals as deemed necessary. The goals of theOffice are to encourage telework as a family-friendly, business-friendlypublic policy that promotes workplace efficiency and reduces strain ontransportation infrastructure. In conjunction with efforts to promotetelework, the Office shall work with public and private entities to developwidespread access to broadband services. It shall be the duty of the Directorof the Office to advise the Secretary and the Board of Directors of theInnovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority, generally.
B. The Director shall have the following duties:
1. Promote and encourage use of telework alternatives for public and privateemployees, including but not limited to appropriate policy and legislativeinitiatives. Upon request, the Director may advise and assist private sectoremployers in the Commonwealth in planning, developing, and administeringprograms, projects, plans, policies, and other activities for telecommutingby private sector employees and in developing incentives provided by theprivate sector to encourage private sector employers in the Commonwealth toutilize employee telecommuting.
2. Advise and assist state agencies, and upon request of the localities,advise and assist localities in planning, developing, and administeringprograms, projects, plans, policies, and other activities to promotetelecommuting by employees of state agencies or localities.
3. Support the efforts of both public and private entities within theCommonwealth to enhance or facilitate the deployment of, and access tocompetitively priced, advanced electronic communications services (commonlyknown as broadband) and Internet access services of general applicationthroughout the Commonwealth.
4. Specifically work towards establishing affordable, accessible broadbandservices to unserved areas of the Commonwealth and monitor advancements incommunication that will facilitate this goal.
5. Advocate for, and facilitate the development and deployment of,applications, programs, and services including, but not limited to telework,telemedicine, and e-learning that will bolster the usage of and demand forbroadband level telecommunications.
6. Serve as a broadband information and applications clearinghouse for theCommonwealth and a coordination point for broadband-related services andprograms in the Commonwealth.
7. Advise the Secretary on broadband adoption, deployment, and applicationissues.
8. Coordinate activities regarding telework with, and regularly report to, apanel consisting of the Secretaries of Administration, Commerce and Trade,Finance, Technology, and Transportation. The Secretary of Technology shallserve as chair of the panel. Additional members may be designated by theGovernor. Staff support for the panel shall be provided by the offices of theSecretaries of Technology and Transportation and the Governor shall designateadditional agencies to provide staff support as necessary.
9. The Director, under the direction of the Secretary of Technology and withthe assistance of the Secretaries of Administration and Transportation, shallreport annually to the General Assembly on telework participation levels andtrends of both private and public sector employees in the Commonwealth.
C. The Office shall not have the power to consolidate or otherwise haveauthority over advanced communications projects being conducted by public orprivate bodies outside of the executive branch of government.
(2008, c. 444; 2009, cc. 180, 325, 810.)