California lawmakers are advancing a bill to require state agencies to offer telework options as Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to bring state workers back to the office on July 1 faces resistance. Dozens of state workers gathered at the state Capitol to support Assembly Bill 1729, authored by Democratic Assemblyman Alex Lee. The bill mandates that state agencies to provide telework options or explain in writing why employees must report to an office. It also proposes creating a state online dashboard to display savings from telework programs. During the hearing, no one appeared to oppose the bill. The leader of the state Senate’s Labor and Employment Committee voiced support for the measure, saying: “Where the state goes in this very complex discussion about how we will do work in the future and how do we do it in a way that saves our environment but also saves our commercial corridors but also workers their dignity and control of time, how they approach working conditions. Very very valuable discussion today and that’s why I support this bill. I understand the concerns and pressures the administration has raised, I’ve heard from local leaders in Los Angeles, we recognize our urban and commercial corridors are going through hard times just like workers are going through hard times,” committee leader Lola Smallwood-Cuevas said. The bill has passed every step at the state Capitol unanimously so far and must clear at least one more committee before heading to the Senate for a final vote. If approved, Governor Newsom would need to sign it for it to take effect immediately. The timeline for lawmakers to send the bill to Newsom remains unclear, as the state Senate is currently negotiating the state budget, which must be finalized within the next few weeks. It is uncertain whether the return-to-office issue will be included in those negotiations.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
California lawmakers are advancing a bill to require state agencies to offer telework options as Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to bring state workers back to the office on July 1 faces resistance.
Dozens of state workers gathered at the state Capitol to support Assembly Bill 1729, authored by Democratic Assemblyman Alex Lee. The bill mandates that state agencies to provide telework options or explain in writing why employees must report to an office. It also proposes creating a state online dashboard to display savings from telework programs.
During the hearing, no one appeared to oppose the bill. The leader of the state Senate’s Labor and Employment Committee voiced support for the measure, saying:
“Where the state goes in this very complex discussion about how we will do work in the future and how do we do it in a way that saves our environment but also saves our commercial corridors but also workers their dignity and control of time, how they approach working conditions. Very very valuable discussion today and that’s why I support this bill. I understand the concerns and pressures the administration has raised, I’ve heard from local leaders in Los Angeles, we recognize our urban and commercial corridors are going through hard times just like workers are going through hard times,” committee leader Lola Smallwood-Cuevas said.
The bill has passed every step at the state Capitol unanimously so far and must clear at least one more committee before heading to the Senate for a final vote. If approved, Governor Newsom would need to sign it for it to take effect immediately.
The timeline for lawmakers to send the bill to Newsom remains unclear, as the state Senate is currently negotiating the state budget, which must be finalized within the next few weeks. It is uncertain whether the return-to-office issue will be included in those negotiations.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel