Senate Bill No. 1486 seeks to amend existing laws concerning temporary state employees and their rights to collective bargaining in Connecticut. The bill introduces new definitions, including "Temporary employee," which refers to individuals hired for a limited term to perform work similar to that of permanent employees. It allows temporary employees not currently part of a bargaining unit to be included upon request from the exclusive representative of that unit, thereby enabling their participation in collective bargaining. Additionally, the bill mandates that employers negotiate terms of employment for temporary employees, including seniority considerations and preferential hiring for permanent positions, while also requiring employers to provide essential information about wages, benefits, and application processes for permanent roles.

The legislation also makes several technical amendments to existing statutes, including the redefinition of "employee organizations" and the clarification of the term "public employer." It requires public employers to provide exclusive representatives with specific information about newly hired employees in a timely manner and allows for pilot programs to discuss state classifications without collective bargaining. The bill repeals and substitutes various sections of the general statutes to streamline collective bargaining processes and enhance communication between public employers and employee organizations. Overall, SB1486 aims to improve the rights and protections of temporary state employees while updating legal definitions and procedures to reflect current practices.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 5-270, 5-226f, 16-245n
LAB Joint Favorable: 5-270, 5-226f, 16-245n
File No. 343: 5-270, 16-245n