Signed by Governor Kate Brown

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends law enforcement arbitration regulations.

Highlights:

• Prohibits arbitrators who find that misconduct has occurred consistent with a law enforcement agency’s finding of misconduct, from ordering any disciplinary action that differs from the disciplinary action imposed by the agency, if the disciplinary action imposed by the agency is consistent with the provisions of a discipline guide or discipline matrix adopted by the agency in a collective bargaining agreement and is incorporated into the agency’s disciplinary policies (Sec. 1).

• Defines “collective bargaining” as the performance of the mutual obligation of a public employer and the representative of its employees to confer with respect to employment relations and disputes concerning the interpretation or application of a collective bargaining agreement, and to execute written contracts incorporating agreements that have been reached in such negotiations (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that for employee bargaining involving sworn law enforcement officers of a law enforcement agency, “employment relations” includes the development of a discipline guide or discipline matrix (Sec. 2-3).

• Defines “discipline guide” as a grid that is designed to provide parameters for the level of discipline to be imposed for an act of misconduct that is categorized by the severity of the misconduct and that takes into account the presumptive level of discipline for the misconduct and any aggravating or mitigating factors (Sec. 1).

• Defines “discipline matrix” as a grid used to determine the level of discipline to be imposed for an act of misconduct that is categorized by the severity of the misconduct, according to the intersection where the category of misconduct and level of disciplinary action meet (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text