This bill amends the public employee labor relations laws to introduce new voting procedures for collective bargaining units. Key changes include the requirement for recertification of exclusive representatives when a majority of members in a bargaining unit have never voted on the issue of collective representation. The bill mandates that the Department of Labor notify each bargaining unit when this majority is reached, and it stipulates that all members must participate in recertification votes or any votes regarding changes in bargaining representation. Additionally, if a majority votes to decertify the unit, a new bargaining unit can be established within 12 months, and documentation of all votes must be submitted to the Department of Labor within 30 days.

The bill also includes provisions to ensure that all members of a bargaining unit have equal participation in organizational affairs and prohibits discrimination based on various factors. It does not provide funding for the implementation of these changes, which may require the Department of Labor and the Public Employee Labor Relations Board to develop new systems and potentially hire additional staff to manage the increased administrative tasks. The estimated fiscal impact indicates that expenditures for local and county governments could exceed $10,000 annually due to the need for coordination and potential legal assistance related to the new voting procedures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 273-A:10