Vetoed by Governor Jim Gibbons

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that provides for the right of certain state employees to enter into workplace relations units, and provides guidelines for discussions and agreements between employee and employer.

Highlights:

-Authorizes the Personnel Commission to adopt rules concerning workplace relations (Sec. 18). -Authorizes the Commission to conduct hearings related to workplace relations (Sec. 18). -Authorizes the Commission to issue subpoenas against witnesses to the complaint (Sec. 19). -Permits state employees the right to organize and participate in employee organizations (Sec. 21). -Requires all employee organizations to comply with state employment conditions, and requires a contract to be signed by employers and employees, laying out the terms of discussions and meetings (Sec. 21). -Requires a written copy of all grievances, as well as a plan to resolve such grievances (Sec. 22). -Establishes guidelines for fees, dues, and political contributions (Sec. 23). -Prohibits the employer from refusing to participate in discussions about workplace relations, coerce an employee in any way, interfere in any way with the employee organization, or discriminate in any terms of employment based on participation in employee organizations, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, or political or personal reasons or affiliations. (Sec. 24). -Provides guidelines for filing a complaint if Section 24 of this bill is violated (Sec. 25). -Requires the Commission to establish at least one workplace relations unit in the following occupations (Sec. 27): -Labor Employees; -Maintenance Employees; -Custodial Employees; -Institutional Employees; -Administrative and clerical employees; -Technical aides to professional employees; -Professional employees; -Employees who provide health and personal care; -Peace officers; -Supervisory Employees; -Higher Education employees; and -Employees of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. -Establishes guidelines for the election of an exclusive representative of a workplace relations unit (Sec. 29). -Permits the exclusive representative to act as an agent for all other employees in the workplace relations unit (Sec. 32). -Establishes alternatives if an agreement cannot be reached after certain periods of time, including a mediator and an impartial arbitrator (Sec. 36). -Establishes guidelines for the appointment of the members of the Personnel Commission (Sec. 44.3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that gives state employees collective bargaining rights in non-economic issues in the workplace.

Highlights:

-Declares that the state recognizes the need for constructive relations between the state and its employees, and the need to grant the right to organize and discuss workplace relations (Sec.17). -Authorizes the Personnel Commission to oversee negotiations about workplace relations, including hearing and deciding complaints and making reparations (Sec. 18). -Permits judicial injunction if the ruling from the Personnel Commission is ignored (Sec.18). -Permits state employees the right to form organizations to discuss workplace relations and requires written negotiated agreements to resolve grievances (Secs. 21, 22). -Requires negotiated agreements to contain fair share agreements in which employees pay a part of the costs of discussions of workplace relations (Secs. 10, 22). -Prohibits the Executive Department of the State from refusing to negotiate workplace relations and from interfering or assisting in the formation of employee organizations, or making decisions based on an employees participation in such groups (Sec. 24). -Establishes guidelines for filing a complaint with the Personnel Commission and procedures for hearing and rectifying such complaints (Secs. 25, 26). -Establishes workplace relations units of employees for each occupational group (Sec. 27). -Specifies procedures for the Personnel Commission in conducting and deciding the results of an election of an exclusive representative for the employees in a workplace relations unit (Secs. 28, 29, 30). -Specifies the duties of an exclusive representative, including negotiating workplace relations with the Executive Department (Sec. 32). -Permits a mediator or an impartial arbitrator to be brought into negotiations about workplace relations and outlines procedures for arbitration (Secs. 35, 36, 37). -Permits judicial review of an arbitrator's decision by the district court and establishes that dues to employee organizations will be paid out of employees' salaries (Secs. 38, 43).

Full Bill Text

Highlights:

Project Vote Smart staff and volunteers are working hard to produce a clear and accurate summary of the contents of the bill. At this time, we have posted the voting record for AB 395 so you can see how the office holder representing you has voted on this piece of legislation. We will have a detailed summary available as soon as possible. For further status information, call the Voter's Research Hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762).