California 2019-2020 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SB179 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1-Enrolled September 03, 2020 Passed IN Senate May 23, 2019 Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2020 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 179Introduced by Senator NielsenJanuary 28, 2019An act to add Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to state employees.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 179, Nielsen. Excluded employees: arbitration.The Bill of Rights for State Excluded Employees permits, among other things, excluded employee organizations to represent their excluded members in their employment relations, including grievances, with the state. That law defines excluded employees as all managerial employees, confidential employees, supervisory employees, as well as specified employees of the Department of Personnel Administration, the Department of Finance, the Controllers office, the Legislative Counsel Bureau, the Bureau of State Audits, the Public Employment Relations Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the State Athletic Commission.This bill would enact the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act to permit an employee organization that represents an excluded employee who has filed certain grievances with the Department of Human Resources to request arbitration of the grievance if specified conditions are met. The bill would require the designation of a standing panel of arbitrators and, under specified circumstances, the provision of arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board. The bill would then require the arbitrator to be chosen in a specified manner and would prescribe the duties of that arbitrator. The bill would provide that a party to the arbitration has the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding and that the transcription would be the official record of the proceeding. The bill would require a nonprevailing party, other than an excluded employee, to bear the costs of arbitration and would prohibit the costs of arbitration from being passed on to the excluded employee. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that state excluded employees shall have the right to arbitration as a fifth step to the excluded employee grievance procedure. The present grievance procedure leaves too many grievances unresolved. This lack of resolution has caused more cases to be filed in Californias courts, which could have been resolved at a lower level.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) The grievance system for state excluded employees is virtually illusory, with the overwhelming majority of grievances of excluded employees being summarily denied.(2) The practice of blanket grievance denial forces excluded employee organizations to go to court. Litigation is not only time consuming, but also costly to both the excluded employee organizations and the State of California.(3) Employee grievance arbitration for excluded employees results in timely resolution of grievances and is far less costly than litigation for both the State of California and for those excluded employees.(4) Employee grievance arbitration promotes settlement of grievances in advance of actual arbitration. Sixty percent of arbitration requests are settled in advance of any arbitral hearing.SEC. 2. Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) is added to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.(b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.(c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.(d) Employer means the State of California.(e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.(b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.(c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.(b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.(c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.(d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.(b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.(c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.(d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.
1+CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 179Introduced by Senator NielsenJanuary 28, 2019An act to add Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to state employees.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 179, as introduced, Nielsen. Excluded employees: arbitration.The Bill of Rights for State Excluded Employees permits, among other things, excluded employee organizations to represent their excluded members in their employment relations, including grievances, with the state. That law defines excluded employees as all managerial employees, confidential employees, supervisory employees, as well as specified employees of the Department of Personnel Administration, the Department of Finance, the Controllers office, the Legislative Counsel Bureau, the Bureau of State Audits, the Public Employment Relations Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the State Athletic Commission.This bill would enact the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act to permit an employee organization that represents an excluded employee who has filed certain grievances with the Department of Human Resources to request arbitration of the grievance if specified conditions are met. The bill would require the designation of a standing panel of arbitrators and, under specified circumstances, the provision of arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board. The bill would then require the arbitrator to be chosen in a specified manner and would prescribe the duties of that arbitrator. The bill would provide that a party to the arbitration has the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding and that the transcription would be the official record of the proceeding. The bill would require a nonprevailing party, other than an excluded employee, to bear the costs of arbitration and would prohibit the costs of arbitration from being passed on to the excluded employee. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that state excluded employees shall have the right to arbitration as a fifth step to the excluded employee grievance procedure. The present grievance procedure leaves too many grievances unresolved. This lack of resolution has caused more cases to be filed in Californias courts, which could have been resolved at a lower level.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) The grievance system for state excluded employees is virtually illusory, with the overwhelming majority of grievances of excluded employees being summarily denied.(2) The practice of blanket grievance denial forces excluded employee organizations to go to court. Litigation is not only time consuming, but also costly to both the excluded employee organizations and the State of California.(3) Employee grievance arbitration for excluded employees results in timely resolution of grievances and is far less costly than litigation for both the State of California and for those excluded employees.(4) Employee grievance arbitration promotes settlement of grievances in advance of actual arbitration. Sixty percent of arbitration requests are settled in advance of any arbitral hearing.SEC. 2. Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) is added to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.(b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.(c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.(d) Employer means the State of California.(e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.(b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.(c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.(b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.(c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.(d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.(b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.(c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.(d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.
22
3- Enrolled September 03, 2020 Passed IN Senate May 23, 2019 Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2020 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 179Introduced by Senator NielsenJanuary 28, 2019An act to add Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to state employees.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 179, Nielsen. Excluded employees: arbitration.The Bill of Rights for State Excluded Employees permits, among other things, excluded employee organizations to represent their excluded members in their employment relations, including grievances, with the state. That law defines excluded employees as all managerial employees, confidential employees, supervisory employees, as well as specified employees of the Department of Personnel Administration, the Department of Finance, the Controllers office, the Legislative Counsel Bureau, the Bureau of State Audits, the Public Employment Relations Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the State Athletic Commission.This bill would enact the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act to permit an employee organization that represents an excluded employee who has filed certain grievances with the Department of Human Resources to request arbitration of the grievance if specified conditions are met. The bill would require the designation of a standing panel of arbitrators and, under specified circumstances, the provision of arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board. The bill would then require the arbitrator to be chosen in a specified manner and would prescribe the duties of that arbitrator. The bill would provide that a party to the arbitration has the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding and that the transcription would be the official record of the proceeding. The bill would require a nonprevailing party, other than an excluded employee, to bear the costs of arbitration and would prohibit the costs of arbitration from being passed on to the excluded employee. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
3+ CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 179Introduced by Senator NielsenJanuary 28, 2019An act to add Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to state employees.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 179, as introduced, Nielsen. Excluded employees: arbitration.The Bill of Rights for State Excluded Employees permits, among other things, excluded employee organizations to represent their excluded members in their employment relations, including grievances, with the state. That law defines excluded employees as all managerial employees, confidential employees, supervisory employees, as well as specified employees of the Department of Personnel Administration, the Department of Finance, the Controllers office, the Legislative Counsel Bureau, the Bureau of State Audits, the Public Employment Relations Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the State Athletic Commission.This bill would enact the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act to permit an employee organization that represents an excluded employee who has filed certain grievances with the Department of Human Resources to request arbitration of the grievance if specified conditions are met. The bill would require the designation of a standing panel of arbitrators and, under specified circumstances, the provision of arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board. The bill would then require the arbitrator to be chosen in a specified manner and would prescribe the duties of that arbitrator. The bill would provide that a party to the arbitration has the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding and that the transcription would be the official record of the proceeding. The bill would require a nonprevailing party, other than an excluded employee, to bear the costs of arbitration and would prohibit the costs of arbitration from being passed on to the excluded employee. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
44
5- Enrolled September 03, 2020 Passed IN Senate May 23, 2019 Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2020
65
7-Enrolled September 03, 2020
8-Passed IN Senate May 23, 2019
9-Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2020
6+
7+
108
119 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION
1210
13- Senate Bill
14-
15-No. 179
11+Senate Bill No. 179
1612
1713 Introduced by Senator NielsenJanuary 28, 2019
1814
1915 Introduced by Senator Nielsen
2016 January 28, 2019
2117
2218 An act to add Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to state employees.
2319
2420 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2521
2622 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2723
28-SB 179, Nielsen. Excluded employees: arbitration.
24+SB 179, as introduced, Nielsen. Excluded employees: arbitration.
2925
3026 The Bill of Rights for State Excluded Employees permits, among other things, excluded employee organizations to represent their excluded members in their employment relations, including grievances, with the state. That law defines excluded employees as all managerial employees, confidential employees, supervisory employees, as well as specified employees of the Department of Personnel Administration, the Department of Finance, the Controllers office, the Legislative Counsel Bureau, the Bureau of State Audits, the Public Employment Relations Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the State Athletic Commission.This bill would enact the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act to permit an employee organization that represents an excluded employee who has filed certain grievances with the Department of Human Resources to request arbitration of the grievance if specified conditions are met. The bill would require the designation of a standing panel of arbitrators and, under specified circumstances, the provision of arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board. The bill would then require the arbitrator to be chosen in a specified manner and would prescribe the duties of that arbitrator. The bill would provide that a party to the arbitration has the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding and that the transcription would be the official record of the proceeding. The bill would require a nonprevailing party, other than an excluded employee, to bear the costs of arbitration and would prohibit the costs of arbitration from being passed on to the excluded employee.
3127
3228 The Bill of Rights for State Excluded Employees permits, among other things, excluded employee organizations to represent their excluded members in their employment relations, including grievances, with the state. That law defines excluded employees as all managerial employees, confidential employees, supervisory employees, as well as specified employees of the Department of Personnel Administration, the Department of Finance, the Controllers office, the Legislative Counsel Bureau, the Bureau of State Audits, the Public Employment Relations Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the State Athletic Commission.
3329
3430 This bill would enact the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act to permit an employee organization that represents an excluded employee who has filed certain grievances with the Department of Human Resources to request arbitration of the grievance if specified conditions are met. The bill would require the designation of a standing panel of arbitrators and, under specified circumstances, the provision of arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board. The bill would then require the arbitrator to be chosen in a specified manner and would prescribe the duties of that arbitrator. The bill would provide that a party to the arbitration has the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding and that the transcription would be the official record of the proceeding. The bill would require a nonprevailing party, other than an excluded employee, to bear the costs of arbitration and would prohibit the costs of arbitration from being passed on to the excluded employee.
3531
3632 ## Digest Key
3733
3834 ## Bill Text
3935
4036 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that state excluded employees shall have the right to arbitration as a fifth step to the excluded employee grievance procedure. The present grievance procedure leaves too many grievances unresolved. This lack of resolution has caused more cases to be filed in Californias courts, which could have been resolved at a lower level.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) The grievance system for state excluded employees is virtually illusory, with the overwhelming majority of grievances of excluded employees being summarily denied.(2) The practice of blanket grievance denial forces excluded employee organizations to go to court. Litigation is not only time consuming, but also costly to both the excluded employee organizations and the State of California.(3) Employee grievance arbitration for excluded employees results in timely resolution of grievances and is far less costly than litigation for both the State of California and for those excluded employees.(4) Employee grievance arbitration promotes settlement of grievances in advance of actual arbitration. Sixty percent of arbitration requests are settled in advance of any arbitral hearing.SEC. 2. Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) is added to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.(b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.(c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.(d) Employer means the State of California.(e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.(b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.(c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.(b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.(c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.(d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.(b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.(c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.(d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.
4137
4238 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4339
4440 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4541
4642 SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that state excluded employees shall have the right to arbitration as a fifth step to the excluded employee grievance procedure. The present grievance procedure leaves too many grievances unresolved. This lack of resolution has caused more cases to be filed in Californias courts, which could have been resolved at a lower level.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) The grievance system for state excluded employees is virtually illusory, with the overwhelming majority of grievances of excluded employees being summarily denied.(2) The practice of blanket grievance denial forces excluded employee organizations to go to court. Litigation is not only time consuming, but also costly to both the excluded employee organizations and the State of California.(3) Employee grievance arbitration for excluded employees results in timely resolution of grievances and is far less costly than litigation for both the State of California and for those excluded employees.(4) Employee grievance arbitration promotes settlement of grievances in advance of actual arbitration. Sixty percent of arbitration requests are settled in advance of any arbitral hearing.
4743
4844 SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that state excluded employees shall have the right to arbitration as a fifth step to the excluded employee grievance procedure. The present grievance procedure leaves too many grievances unresolved. This lack of resolution has caused more cases to be filed in Californias courts, which could have been resolved at a lower level.(b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) The grievance system for state excluded employees is virtually illusory, with the overwhelming majority of grievances of excluded employees being summarily denied.(2) The practice of blanket grievance denial forces excluded employee organizations to go to court. Litigation is not only time consuming, but also costly to both the excluded employee organizations and the State of California.(3) Employee grievance arbitration for excluded employees results in timely resolution of grievances and is far less costly than litigation for both the State of California and for those excluded employees.(4) Employee grievance arbitration promotes settlement of grievances in advance of actual arbitration. Sixty percent of arbitration requests are settled in advance of any arbitral hearing.
4945
5046 SECTION 1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that state excluded employees shall have the right to arbitration as a fifth step to the excluded employee grievance procedure. The present grievance procedure leaves too many grievances unresolved. This lack of resolution has caused more cases to be filed in Californias courts, which could have been resolved at a lower level.
5147
5248 ### SECTION 1.
5349
5450 (b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
5551
5652 (1) The grievance system for state excluded employees is virtually illusory, with the overwhelming majority of grievances of excluded employees being summarily denied.
5753
5854 (2) The practice of blanket grievance denial forces excluded employee organizations to go to court. Litigation is not only time consuming, but also costly to both the excluded employee organizations and the State of California.
5955
6056 (3) Employee grievance arbitration for excluded employees results in timely resolution of grievances and is far less costly than litigation for both the State of California and for those excluded employees.
6157
6258 (4) Employee grievance arbitration promotes settlement of grievances in advance of actual arbitration. Sixty percent of arbitration requests are settled in advance of any arbitral hearing.
6359
6460 SEC. 2. Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) is added to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.(b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.(c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.(d) Employer means the State of California.(e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.(b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.(c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.(b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.(c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.(d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.(b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.(c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.(d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.
6561
6662 SEC. 2. Chapter 10.6 (commencing with Section 3539.75) is added to Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:
6763
6864 ### SEC. 2.
6965
7066 CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.(b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.(c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.(d) Employer means the State of California.(e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.(b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.(c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.(b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.(c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.(d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.(b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.(c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.(d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.
7167
7268 CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.(b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.(c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.(d) Employer means the State of California.(e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.(b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.(c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.(b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.(c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.(d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.(b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.(c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.(d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.
7369
7470 CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act
7571
7672 CHAPTER 10.6. Excluded Employee Arbitration Act
7773
7874 3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.
7975
8076
8177
8278 3539.75. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Excluded Employee Arbitration Act.
8379
8480 3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.(b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.(c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.(d) Employer means the State of California.(e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.
8581
8682
8783
8884 3539.76. For purposes of this chapter:
8985
9086 (a) Department means the Department of Human Resources.
9187
9288 (b) Excluded employee means an excluded employee of the state, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3527.
9389
9490 (c) Employee organization means any organization that represents excluded employees of the State of California.
9591
9692 (d) Employer means the State of California.
9793
9894 (e) Arbitration means the process that results in a binding ruling that resolves an excluded employee grievance as the final level of the excluded employee grievance process.
9995
10096 3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:(a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.(b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.(c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:(1) The fourth level of review.(2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.
10197
10298
10399
104100 3539.77. An employee organization representing an employee who has filed a grievance with the department may request arbitration of the grievance if all of the following conditions are met:
105101
106102 (a) The grievance alleges a dispute that is subject to the procedures established in Section 599.859 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as that section read on January 1, 2019.
107103
108104 (b) The grievance has not been resolved to the employee organizations satisfaction after either of the following, as applicable, pursuant to regulations of the department governing grievances for excluded employees:
109105
110106 (1) The fourth level of review.
111107
112108 (2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.
113109
114110 (c) The employee organization requests arbitration in writing, submitted to the department, within 21 days of a decision rendered in either of the following, as applicable:
115111
116112 (1) The fourth level of review.
117113
118114 (2) In cases where there is no fourth level of review, the third level of review.
119115
120116 3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.(b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.(c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.(d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.
121117
122118
123119
124120 3539.78. (a) After a request for arbitration is made, the department and the employee organization shall designate a standing panel of at least 20 arbitrators who shall be available for arbitration under this chapter.
125121
126122 (b) If there are fewer than three arbitrators available, then the employee organization or the employer may obtain the names of an additional five arbitrators from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service within the Public Employment Relations Board.
127123
128124 (c) From that standing panel, the employee organization and the employer may consecutively strike any arbitrator from that panel until the name of one arbitrator is agreed upon, or, if no agreement is made, the last remaining person on the panel shall be designated the arbitrator. The name of that arbitrator shall be submitted in writing to the department.
129125
130126 (d) If the employee organization does not submit its choice of an arbitrator within 45 days after requesting arbitration, the request for arbitration shall be considered withdrawn. A request that is withdrawn shall not prevent the employee from pursuing other grievance procedures available by law.
131127
132128 3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.(b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.(c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.(d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.
133129
134130
135131
136132 3539.79. (a) A party to the arbitration shall have the right to have a certified shorthand reporter transcribe the proceeding. The transcript shall be the official record of the proceeding.
137133
138134 (b) The arbitrator shall apply California law to the facts. The arbitrator shall issue a decision for each grievance heard during the arbitration. The decision shall be based solely on the written record in the grievance, the grievance response, and the oral presentations made at the arbitration. The arbitrators decision shall be legally binding.
139135
140136 (c) The arbitrator shall issue a written decision within 45 days of the conclusion of the hearing.
141137
142138 (d) The arbitrator shall order the nonprevailing party to pay the cost of the arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter. The arbitrator shall not order the excluded employee to pay the cost of arbitration or the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, and the cost of arbitration, including the cost of a certified shorthand reporter, shall not be passed on to the excluded employee.