BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                            Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair


          AB 1611 (Bonta) - School Employees
          
          Amended: April 21, 2014         Policy Vote: PE&R 3-2
          Urgency: No                     Mandate: Yes
          Hearing Date: August 4, 2014                            
          Consultant: Maureen Ortiz       
          
          This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the  
          Suspense File.
          
          
          Bill Summary: AB 1611 requires public school employers to give  
          reasonable written notice to the exclusive representative of a  
          classified school employee group of their intent to make any  
          changes to matters within the scope of representation.

          Fiscal Impact: 

              Minor costs, potentially state reimbursable, to public  
              school employers for providing the written notices (General)

          Background:  Under the Educational Employment Relations Act  
          (EERA), public school employees have the right to form, join,  
          and participate in the activities of employee organizations of  
          their choosing for the purpose of representation on all matters  
          of employer-employee relations.   The scope of representation is  
          limited to matters relating to wages, hours of employment, and  
          other terms and conditions of employment.

          The Myers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), the Dills Act (Dills), and  
          the Trial Court Employees Act (TCEA) govern the relations of  
          public agencies, the state, and trial courts with their  
          respective employees.  Each act provides that the employer  
          provide reasonable, written notice to each recognized employee  
          organization affected by any rule, practice, or policy directly  
          relating to matters within the scope of representation.  The  
          EERA, currently does not provide such a notice requirement.

          Proposed Law:  AB 1611 requires public school employers to give  
          reasonable written notice to the exclusive representative of a  
          classified school employee group of their intent to make any  
          changes to matters within the scope of representation.








          AB 1611 (Bonta)
          Page 1




          Staff Comments: Public Employee Retirement Board rulings already  
          require employers to provide notice to the exclusive  
          representatives.  AB 1611 establishes this notice requirement in  
          statute and ensures that it is in writing.  Providing reasonable  
          notice to the employee representative groups will allow the  
          groups time to negotiate with the public school employer  
          regarding the proposed changes.
          
          AB 1611 could result in savings from the avoidance of employee  
          appeals to the Public Employee Relations Board.