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2008 SPECIAL SESSION II

084354616
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6009
Offered June 23, 2008
Requesting the Department of Human Resource Management to study the establishment of a four-day work week for state employees. Report.
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Patron-- Marshall, R.G.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, according to the Energy Information Administration, as of May 2008, regular gasoline averaged $3.94 a gallon in the United States; and

WHEREAS, this price up over 88 cents since January 2008; and

WHEREAS, the price of gasoline is expected to continue to increase; and

WHEREAS, localities in Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York have instituted a four-day work week and estimate that eliminating two commutes per week could save employees on fuel costs and greatly decrease the amount gas used per day; and

WHEREAS, a four-day work week may also assist in alleviating other problems associated with automobile use and commuting, including the reduction of (i) traffic congestion, (ii) greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, (iii) exposure of workers to pollutants, and (iv) the money spent on new road construction and existing road maintenance; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to study whether the four-day work week for state employees will provide such benefits for the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Human Resource Management be requested to study the establishment of a four-day work week for state employees.  In conducting the study, the secretary shall also consider the expanded use of variable work schedules, also know as “flextime,” as a means of alleviating the problems associated with automobile use and commuting.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Human Resource Management for this study, upon request.

The Department of Human Resource Management shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.