Proponents of a new Connecticut law are hoping it will increase the number of state workers who telecommute and improve their productivity, while reducing traffic congestion and fuel costs.

Supporters say while Connecticut has only about 1 percent of its 50,000 workers telecommuting, under the new law that number could increase to 10 percent, or 5,000 workers.

"This law will put Connecticut in the fast lane when it comes to telecommuting," said Matt O'Connor, communications director for CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, a union that represents thousands of state employees.

Under the new law, individual state agency heads can implement telecommuting. Before, all approvals came from one agency. Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed the law this week after it passed the House and Senate unanimously.

While some state employees may work from home, the law will also provide more flexibility for telecommuting part of the day. Field workers, such as those who test air and water quality, will be able to head directly to their assignments and then file reports by computer from home, rather than making long drives to Hartford or other offices simply to check in at the beginning and end of the day, O'Connor said.

Sandy Brunelli, an analyst for the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), said she plans to apply to work from home one day per week. She said her commute from Southington takes up to an hour when traffic is bad and working from home would allow her to focus on technical reviews without office distractions.

"It's hard to have time to focus without interruptions," Brunelli said. "I think I can probably get a lot more done."

K.C. Alexander, another DEP analyst, said she's noticed a dramatic improvement in her productivity since she began telecommuting one day per week about a year ago. She said she was able to focus on the agency's web site for a recycling program without being pulled into meetings.

"I got almost twice as much done in half the time," Alexander said.