This bill amends Section 20.15 of the Iowa Code to establish new procedures for retention and recertification elections for public employee collective bargaining units. It mandates that the employment appeal board (the board) issue a written notice of intent to conduct an election to both the public employer and the bargaining representative before the election takes place. Following this notice, the public employer is required to submit a list of employees in the bargaining unit to the board within ten days. The board will use this list to determine voter eligibility and the election outcome. Additionally, the bill specifies timelines for when elections must occur based on the expiration date of collective bargaining agreements and outlines the board's responsibilities for publishing a list of public employers who have received a notice of intent but have not yet conducted the election.

The bill also makes it unlawful for public employers to fail to submit the required employee list and allows Iowa residents to petition the district court for a writ of mandamus to compel compliance. The court is instructed to expedite these cases and may award costs and attorney fees to the prevailing party. Furthermore, the board is authorized to extend election timelines as necessary to accommodate the resolution of petitions and appeals. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies to elections for which the notice of intent is issued on or after the effective date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 20.15