BILL NUMBER: SB 656ENROLLED BILL TEXT PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 17, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator DeSaulnier FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to amend Section 3511 of the Government Code, relating to public employment. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 656, DeSaulnier. Public employment: collective bargaining: peace officers. Existing law establishes the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) in state government as a means of resolving disputes and enforcing the statutory duties and rights of employers and employees under the Educational Employment Relations Act, the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act, the Ralph C. Dills Act, and the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act. Existing law includes within PERB's jurisdiction resolving disputes alleging violation of rules and regulations adopted by a public agency, as defined, concerning unit determinations, representations, recognition, and elections, as specified. Existing law requires bargaining unit determinations and representation elections to be determined and processed in accordance with rules adopted by a public agency, as specified. Existing law requires, in a representation election, a majority of the votes cast by the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit. Existing law requires PERB to enforce and apply rules adopted by a public agency concerning unit determinations, representation, recognition, and elections. Existing law also requires specified complaints to be processed as an unfair practice charge by PERB. Existing law does not apply the above provisions to persons who are peace officers, as defined. This bill would also exclude from those provisions a bargaining unit which is comprised of a majority of persons who are peace officers, as defined. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 3511 of the Government Code is amended to read: 3511. The changes made to Sections 3501, 3507.1, and 3509 of the Government Code by legislation enacted during the 1999-2000 Regular Session of the Legislature shall not apply to persons who are peace officers, as defined in Section 830.1 of the Penal Code, or a bargaining unit which is comprised of a majority of persons who are peace officers, as defined in Section 830.1 of the Penal Code.