School employees: collective bargaining.

(1) Existing law permits public school employees to form, join, and participate in the activities of employee organizations of their own choosing for the purpose of representation on all matters of employer-employee relations, as specified. Existing law permits an employee organization to become the exclusive representative of an appropriate unit for purposes of meeting and negotiating, as defined, with a public school employer. Existing law authorizes either a public school employer or the exclusive representative to declare that an impasse, as defined, has been reached between the parties in negotiations over matters within the scope of representation and to request the Public Employment Relations Board to appoint a mediator for the purpose of assisting them, as specified. If the board determines that an impasse exists, existing law requires it to appoint a mediator in accordance with rules it is required to prescribe within 5 working days after the receipt of a request. This bill would increase the time allowed for the board to appoint a mediator, as described above, to 10 working days after the receipt of a request. The bill would also make technical changes in these provisions. (2) Existing law authorizes, if the mediator is unable to effect settlement of the controversy within 15 days after the mediator's appointment and the mediator declares that factfinding is appropriate to the resolution of the impasse, either party to request that their differences be submitted to a factfinding panel, as specified. Existing law requires the panel, if the dispute is not settled within 30 days after its appointment, to make findings of fact and recommend terms of settlement. Existing law requires the public school employer to make these findings and recommendations public within 10 days after their receipt. Existing law prohibits certain laws related to collective bargaining for public school employees from being construed as prohibiting a public school employer from making the final decision with regard to specified matters, including, among other things, matters related to the scope of representation, as defined, and the causes and procedures for disciplinary action other than dismissal. This bill would require the public school employer, after impasse procedures have been completed and the public school employer has made the factfinding panel's recommendations and findings public, to provide written notice to the exclusive representative of the date for the implementation of each of the terms included in the last, best, and final offer of the public school employer at least 30 days before that implementation. By requiring the local public school employer to perform these additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.