The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 350, aims to increase the per diem compensation for members of the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations and the Board of Mediation and Arbitration. Specifically, the bill repeals and replaces existing language in section 31-102(a) of the general statutes, which previously set the per diem rate at one hundred fifty dollars. The new rate will be three hundred dollars for each day a board member is engaged in their duties, effective October 1, 2026. Additionally, section 31-98 is amended to increase the compensation for panel members from three hundred twenty-five dollars to five hundred dollars, with an additional one thousand dollars for those who prepare written decisions.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that if proceedings extend beyond one day, each member will continue to receive five hundred dollars for each additional day, with a cap of two days unless prior approval is obtained from the Labor Commissioner. The compensation for executive panel sessions is also increased from two hundred dollars to three hundred dollars per member. These changes are intended to better compensate board members and panelists for their service and to ensure that the boards can effectively carry out their responsibilities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-98
LAB Joint Favorable: 31-98
File No. 210: 31-98
APP Joint Favorable: 31-98