Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act: new employee orientation: membership authorization forms.

The Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act provides for negotiations concerning wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment between a higher education employer, defined as the Regents of the University of California, the Board of Directors of the Hastings College of the Law, and the Trustees of the California State University, and representatives of recognized employee organizations. This bill would require a higher education employer, upon notification by an exclusive representative, to distribute membership authorization forms, as defined, to each higher education employee as part of the new employee orientation process, and to collect and return the finished membership authorization forms to the exclusive representative, as specified. The bill would authorize an exclusive representative to file an unfair practice charge with the Public Employment Relations Board alleging a violation of these requirements. The bill would subject a violator to a penalty, not to exceed $10,000, to be determined by the board based on specified criteria, and would require the penalty to be deposited in the General Fund. The bill would require attorney's fees and costs to be awarded to a party who prevails in these circumstances, as specified.