Researcher: JM Page 1 3/9/21
OLR Bill Analysis
HB 6382
AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATUS OF PROBATE COURT
SYSTEM EMPLOYEES.
SUMMARY
This bill provides collective bargaining (i.e., unionizing) rights to
probate court employees, including the regional children’s probate
court employees. Current law does not permit them to collectively
bargain, and they serve at the pleasure of the probate court judges.
Beginning October 1, 2021, the bill deems these employees state
employees only for collective bargaining purposes, subject to the state
employee collective bargaining law. Under current law, probate
employees are deemed not to be state employees for any purpose.
The bill also eliminates a provision that specifies that these
employees serve at the pleasure of the probate court judge under
whom they are employed. (Presumably, on and after October 1, 2021,
they will remain “at will” employees (1) if they choose not to unionize
or (2) until they have a collective bargaining agreement in place.)
Under the bill, on and after October 1, 2021, the probate court is
considered an employer for collective bargaining purposes and the
probate court administrator, or his designee, will negotiate on behalf of
the court.
The state employee collective bargaining law establishes provisions
for (1) selecting an exclusive bargaining agent for collective bargaining,
(2) holding an election on whether to form a union, (3) mandatory
negotiations, (4) mandatory binding arbitration when a negotiation
impasse is declared, and (5) other steps and mechanisms related to
bargaining and arbitration.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021 2021HB-06382-R000028-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JM Page 2 3/9/21
COMMITTEE ACTION
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 9 Nay 4 (02/18/2021)