Connecticut Senate Bill SB00989

Connecticut 2011 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/17/11
• Refer: 2/17/11

Caption

An Act Concerning Reserve Fund Balances And Changes To Municipal Binding Arbitration.

Impact

The bill's amendments aim to enhance the efficiency of arbitration proceedings affecting municipal employers and their employees. By ensuring that reserve fund balances cannot be used as a factor in financial evaluations, municipalities may have a clearer path in negotiations, potentially leading to quicker resolutions of disputes. Proponents argue that this measure would create a fairer playing field for municipalities, shielding them from arbitration decisions that could be unduly influenced by their financial reserves.

Summary

SB00989, known as the Act Concerning Reserve Fund Balances and Changes to Municipal Binding Arbitration, seeks to amend existing laws related to municipal employee arbitration processes. The bill prohibits arbitration panels from considering a municipality's reserve fund balance when assessing the financial capabilities of the municipality during arbitration disputes. Furthermore, it establishes that any review of a rejected arbitration award will be limited to a single arbitrator, which is intended to streamline the decision-making process in labor negotiations involving public employees.

Contention

Despite its intended benefits, SB00989 has faced criticism regarding its implications for labor relations. Opponents argue that removing the reserve fund balance from consideration could diminish the financial reality that municipalities face, potentially leading to imbalanced decisions in favor of employee organizations without a full understanding of the municipality's actual financial standing. Additionally, the restriction of reviews to a single arbitrator could undermine comprehensive evaluations of disputes, raising concerns about the fairness of outcomes in arbitration processes.