Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies alterations to the current statewide public school health benefits system.

Highlights:

• Classifies “school employee” as (Sec. 1-2):

• An individual employed by a school employer as a teacher or administrator;

• A municipal school employee;

• An individual employed as a supervisor;

• A confidential employee;

• A certified employee of a school employer; and

• Any other permanent employee of a school employer.

• Establishes the Commission on Public School Employee Health Benefits which has 10 members, of whom 5 shall be representatives of school employees and 5 shall be representatives of school employers (Sec. 2-1).

• Specifies the representatives of school employees are appointed as follows (Sec. 2-2):

• 4 members appointed by the labor organization representing the greatest number of school employees in this State; and

• One member appointed by the labor organization representing the second-greatest number of school employees in this State.

• Appropriates $35,000.00 to the Agency of Education from the General Fund for fiscal year 2022 for per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses for members of the Commission (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the Commission to negotiate a statewide grievance procedure for disputes concerning public school employee health benefits (Sec. 4.e).

• Requires the Commission to request from the parties any data and information that it anticipates needing for the negotiation in a common format, and on or before February 1 of the year of bargaining, the parties shall submit to the Commission the information requested (Sec. 5.a-1).

• Prohibits the Commission from modifying their last best offers post hearing and specifies that prior to the issuance of the decision of the arbitrator or arbitrators, nothing prohibits the parties from settling the matters in dispute (Sec. 6-2).

• Specifies if the Commission is unable to resolve all matters remaining in dispute within 30 days after receiving the fact finder’s report, the Commission will submit the matters remaining in dispute to the VLRB, arbitrator, or arbitrators selected (Sec. 6.a.b-1).

Full Bill Text