Revises provisions relating to collective bargaining by public employees. (BDR 23-556)
One of the significant changes included in SB166 is the revision of the definition of 'supervisory employee.' Under the current law, certain employees performing duties under a paramilitary command structure cannot simply be classified as supervisory employees based on these responsibilities alone. The bill expands this definition to exclude civilian support staff in law enforcement from being labeled as supervisory solely based on their duties, clarifying their status within collective bargaining frameworks.
Senate Bill 166 seeks to amend existing laws governing collective bargaining for public employees, specifically focusing on the classification and treatment of supervisory employees within the realm of local government and state agencies. This bill is a response to the legislative need for clearer definitions and separate bargaining units for specific categories of peace officers and firefighters, which is designed to enhance labor relations in these crucial public service areas.
Notably, the bill introduces requirements for the Government Employee-Management Relations Board to establish separate bargaining units specifically for categories of peace officers and firefighters. This could potentially create contention among labor unions about how employees are categorized and represented in negotiations. Additionally, it stipulates that any changes made by this bill will not affect any existing collective bargaining agreements that were in place before July 1, 2023, thereby providing a buffer period for current contracts.