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Minutes for SB256 - Committee on Government Efficiency
Short Title
Enacting the back to work act to require all full-time state employees to perform such employees' duties in their assigned office, facility or field location, provide for certain exceptions by agency heads and require certain reports regarding such exceptions.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 6, 2025
Chair Erickson opened the hearing on SB 256.
Staff provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Proponent:
Seth Wagoner, Chief Executive Officer, AIM Strategies spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 2) Their organization is extremely thankful that the bill is being considered to bring workers back to the downtown core. The goal has always been long term with investment and making Topeka a better place to work and live.
Written proponent testimony was provided by:
Roy Lenardson, Visiting Fellow, Opportunity Solutions Project (OPS) (Attachment 3)
Kari Sue Vosburgh, Sedgwick County Precinct Committeewoman. (Attachment 23)
Neutral/Informational
Secretary Adam Proffitt, Kansas Department of Administration, The Secretary discussed the implementation of the bill, which requires full-time state employees to work in assigned office facilities or field locations, with the exceptions for certain circumstances, while also considering the benefits and concerns of remote work. Information was provided on how the Executive Branch operates as it relates to telework and remote work. (Attachment 20) There is a distinction between the two terms, and the two issues are often conflated. Remote work describes a work arrangement where an employee has a permanent official workstation that is not in a state office. Employees who have a remote work arrangement are rarely, if ever, required to work at a state owned facility. These employees generally work from home on a permanent basis. Telework, describes an arrangement whereby an employee's official workstation is at a state office, but they could be required to work at an alternate work location on occasion. Many agencies do offer limited telework opportunities for some employee, provided they follow established policies. These are hybrid positions, where often the employee spends more days in the office than they do teleworking.
The Administration agrees that the State is not a remote work environment, and the Governor's preference is to start from a place of state employees working in office, while telework/hybrid work is not appropriate for every function, when applied appropriately it can be a powerful recruiting tool.
Carol Moreland, MSN, RN, Executive Administrator, Kansas State Board of Nursing provided written neutral testimony. (Attachment 21)
Opponents:
Frances Dewell, self, asked the Committee to listen to the voices of Kansas workers who provide essential services while successfully teleworking from home, and requests the Committee to carefully consider the testimony and reject the bill. (Attachment 4)
Tandy Wolters, Citizen Testimony, spoke in opposition to the bill. (Attachment 5) Workplace flexibility is a mutually beneficial arrangement between employees and employers. While there is a perception that workplace flexibility is primarily an employee benefit, research shows that it can also enhance engagement and productivity; garner loyalty; attract and retain top talent; reduce costs; and reduce unnecessary absenteeism and turnover from employees who struggle to meet non-work obligations.
Crystal Kaur, Self, testified in opposition to the bill. (Attachment 22) The bill is not about efficiency - it is about forcing workers back into offices for the sake of appearances, no matter the consequences.
Amber Schmidt, Self, expressed strong opposition to the bill. (Attachment 24) Ms. Schmidt stated that she understood the intent behind the bill and believes it is an unnecessary and counter productive measure that would negatively impact both state employees and the efficiency of government operations.
Written testimony in opposition to the bill:
Martha Gabehart, Ex. Dir. Ks. Commission on Disability Concerns (Attachment 6)
Andre Jacobs, Self (Attachment 7)
Serena Casteneda, Self (Attachment 8)
Amanda Bain Wysocki, Self (Attachment 9)
Alejandra Morales Aguilar, Self (Attachment 10)
Christie Bauerle, Self (Attachment 11)
Bridget Dupin, Self (Attachment 12)
Cristina Fernandez, Self (Attachment 13)
Elaine Myers, Self (Attachment 14)
Jessica Tucker, Self (Attachment 15)
Liza McRoy, Self (Attachment 16)
Nason Kloppenborg, Self (Attachment 17)
Nicole Riddle, Self (Attachment 18)
Cheyenne Jackson, Self (Attachment 19)
Chair Erickson closed the hearing on SB 256
The next committee meeting is March 10, 2025. The meeting was adjourned at 10:24 am.
