Provide protection for the rights of professional, administrative and secretarial employees of the department of education to collectively bargain over all terms and conditions of employment.
Impact
The enactment of H5227 is primarily intended to safeguard union rights for education employees, ensuring that their collective bargaining agreements are respected and not overridden by the management of the Department of Education. This could potentially lead to improved job security and working conditions for a significant segment of the state’s education workforce. It is expected that this will facilitate better negotiation practices between employees and management, leading to greater harmony within educational institutions.
Summary
House Bill 5227 aims to enhance the rights of professional, administrative, and secretarial employees within the Rhode Island Department of Education by affirming their ability to collectively bargain over all terms and conditions of their employment. This includes critical elements such as salaries, promotion criteria, and dismissal procedures. The bill is a response to the need for clearer protection for education staff amidst changing regulations and managerial policies within the department.
Contention
While the bill is expected to draw support from unions and employee advocacy groups, it may face opposition from those who believe that such collective bargaining rights should be restricted. Critics could argue that expanding bargaining rights could lead to increased costs for the state in terms of salaries and benefits, possibly impacting the budget allocated for education. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the autonomy of management in making hiring and staffing decisions without extensive negotiations.
Provides that the permanent foundation educational aid program would provide state funding for school-based mental health services pursuant to specified conditions.
Provides that the permanent foundation educational aid program would provide state funding for school-based mental health services pursuant to specified conditions.
Allows retired public safety officers to seek secondary employment with the state or any municipality without any reduction or forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Allows retired public safety officers to seek secondary employment with the state or any municipality without any reduction or forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Amends the term "extraordinary costs" for the purposes of excess costs associated with special education students. The new definition of extraordinary costs would be educational costs that are over 3 times the average statewide special education cost.
Requires the departments of elementary and secondary education and health to adopt policies/rules/regulations for the administration of seizure rescue medications for children who have been medically identified as having epilepsy/seizure disorder.
Requires employer to furnish items and conditions of employment and a pay stub explaining how wages were calculated/reasons for deductions/allows the employee to file a court action against employer for violation.