General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5236 proposes the establishment of a Public Transit Workplace Health, Safety and Violence Prevention Committee within the Department of Transportation, effective October 1, 2026. This committee will consist of two public transit bus operators and two management representatives from each transit district, with the Commissioner of Transportation serving as a nonvoting member. The bill outlines the appointment process for committee members, including provisions for those in collective bargaining units, and mandates that initial appointments be completed by November 1, 2026. The committee is tasked with developing a comprehensive workplace health, safety, and violence protection plan by January 1, 2028, which will address various workplace issues and must comply with existing state and federal laws. If the committee fails to adopt a plan, disputes will be submitted to the Board of Mediation and Arbitration. Additionally, any collective bargaining agreements made after the plan's adoption must incorporate the plan by reference.

The bill also mandates that each public transit bus operated by the Department of Transportation or a transit district be equipped with a security barrier designed to protect operators from physical assaults and projectiles. These barriers must meet specific criteria, including being made of durable, bulletproof materials and not obstructing the operator's visibility. The Commissioner of Transportation is required to collaborate with labor organizations to develop a plan for the installation of these barriers and submit it to the General Assembly by January 15, 2027. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to prevent retaliatory actions against transit district employees who report incidents of workplace violence. It modifies existing law by repealing a section related to the appointment of members to certain boards and commissions, replacing it with the inclusion of the newly established committee.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 4-9a