The legislature finds that during the COVID-19 pandemic, state employees have incurred personal expenses and utilized their own resources serving the public. The state needs to provide state employees the tools necessary to serve the public while working from home.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 41.04. Here is the modified chapter for context.
When state employees are required to work from home or are allowed to work from home, agencies may provide or purchase office supplies, services, and other materials necessary for the employees to effectively perform their work.
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A state agency will reimburse a state employee for all necessary additional expenditures incurred by the employee within the employee's scope of employment and directly related to services performed for the agency. As used in this section, "necessary expenditures" includes, but is not limited to:
Desks, computer stands, computers, computer supplies, and chairs;
Upgraded internet service that is necessary for the employees to do their jobs, which may include a stipend to the employees to support the increased costs of the service;
Equipment and services that assist employees with disabilities or special needs to conduct their jobs remotely; and
Other items or services determined by the head of the agency, with approval from the office of financial management, to be necessary for employees to perform their jobs.
An employee shall submit any necessary expenditure with appropriate supporting documentation to the appropriate agency personnel. An agency may provide additional time for submitting requests for reimbursement in a written expense reimbursement policy.
An employee may be reimbursed for expenses incurred after April 1, 2020.
Approval of purchases must be done within the policies and procedures established by the office of financial management.
Use of materials and supplies when approved by the agency is not considered use of state resources for private gain.
This section applies to all state agencies, boards, and commissions. It is intended that the provisions of this section be followed uniformly.
The director of the office of financial management shall adopt necessary policies and procedures to implement this section, including the percentage of time necessary for an employee working from home to qualify for coverage and establishment of thresholds for when equipment is required to be returned to the agency when the employee leaves state service. Depreciation of items over time must be considered in developing the policies and procedures.
During the COVID-19 emergency, state employees may use state internet resources outside normal business hours for social gatherings to enable them to maintain communication and gather socially. Such activities may include, but not be limited to, sharing ideas and tips for working remotely, lunch time gatherings, guest speakers, and open microphone sessions. These activities must be done at no expense to the state and will be considered de minimis activities.
This section expires upon the termination of the state of emergency under proclamation 20-05 and any subsequent state of emergency issued pertaining to COVID-19 in accordance with RCW 43.06.210. The governor shall provide written notice of the termination date of the state of emergency under proclamation 20-05 and any subsequent state of emergency issued pertaining to COVID-19 to affected parties, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the code reviser, and others as deemed appropriate by the governor.