Amendment AA1-SB70

SB70-AA1,571 Section 571. 48.623 (5) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,276,20 48.623 (5) (b) 2. If a recipient requests a hearing within 10 days after the date of notice that his or her payments under sub. (1) are being decreased or discontinued, those payments may not be decreased or discontinued until a decision is rendered after the hearing but payments made pending the hearing decision may be recovered by the department if the contested action or failure to act is upheld. The department shall promptly notify the county department, Indian tribe, or the subunit of the department whose action is the subject of the hearing that the recipient has requested a hearing. Payments under sub. (1) shall be decreased or discontinued if the recipient is contesting a state law or a change in state law and not the determination of the payment made on the recipient's behalf.

SB70-AA1,572 Section 572. 48.623 (6) (am) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,2 48.623 (6) (am) (intro.) On the death, incapacity, resignation, or removal of a guardian receiving payments under sub. (1), the county department , Indian tribe, or the department providing those payments shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in sub. (3) (b) for a period of up to 12 months to an interim caretaker if all of the following conditions are met:

SB70-AA1,573 Section 573. 48.623 (6) (am) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,8 48.623 (6) (am) 1. The county department, Indian tribe, or department inspects the home of the interim caretaker, interviews the interim caretaker, and determines that placement of the child with the interim caretaker is in the best interests of the child. In the case of an Indian child, the best interests of the Indian child shall be determined in accordance with s. 48.01 (2).

SB70-AA1,574 Section 574. 48.623 (6) (am) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,20 48.623 (6) (am) 2. The county department, Indian tribe, or department conducts a background investigation under s. 48.685 of the interim caretaker and any nonclient resident, as defined in s. 48.685 (1) (bm), of the home of the interim caretaker and determines that those individuals meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685. For investigations conducted by an Indian tribe, the background investigation may be conducted under s. 48.685 or by meeting the background check requirements for foster parent licensing under 42 USC 671 (a) (20). The county department, Indian tribe, or department shall provide the department of health services with information about each person who is denied monthly subsidized guardianship payments or permission to reside in the home of an interim caretaker for a reason specified in s. 48.685 (4m) (a) 1. to 5. or (b) 1. to 5.

SB70-AA1,575 Section 575. 48.623 (6) (am) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,277,24 48.623 (6) (am) 3. The interim caretaker cooperates with the county department, Indian tribe, or department in finding a permanent placement for the child.

SB70-AA1,576 Section 576. 48.623 (6) (bm) (intro.), 1., 2., 3., 4. and 5. of the statutes are amended to read:

SB70-AA1,278,11 48.623 (6) (bm) (intro.) On the death or incapacity of a guardian receiving payments under sub. (1), the county department, an Indian tribe, or the department providing those payments shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments in the amount specified in sub. (3) (b) to a person named as a prospective successor guardian of the child in a subsidized guardianship agreement or amended subsidized guardianship agreement that was entered into before the death or incapacity of the guardian if all of the following conditions are met and the court appoints the person as successor guardian to assume the duty and authority of guardianship as provided in s. 48.977 (5m):

SB70-AA1,278,14 1. The county department, Indian tribe, or department determines that the child, if 14 years of age or over, has been consulted with regarding the successor guardianship arrangement.

SB70-AA1,278,16 2. The county department, Indian tribe, or department determines that the person has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child.

SB70-AA1,278,20 3. The county department, Indian tribe, or department inspects the home of the person, interviews the person, and determines that placement of the child with the person is in the best interests of the child. In the case of an Indian child, the best interests of the Indian child shall be determined in accordance with s. 48.01 (2).

SB70-AA1,278,23 4. Prior to being appointed as successor guardian to assume the duty and authority of guardianship, the person enters into a subsidized guardianship agreement under sub. (2) with the county department, Indian tribe, or department.

SB70-AA1,279,7 5. Prior to the person entering into the subsidized guardianship agreement, the county department, Indian tribe, or department conducts a background investigation under s. 48.685 of the person and any nonclient resident, as defined in s. 48.685 (1) (bm), of the home of the person and determines that those individuals meet the requirements specified in s. 48.685. The county department , Indian tribe, or department shall provide the department of health services with information about each person who is denied monthly subsidized guardianship payments or permission to reside in the home of a person receiving those payments for a reason specified in s. 48.685 (4m) (a) 1. to 5. or (b) 1. to 5.

SB70-AA1,577 Section 577. 48.623 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,279,14 48.623 (7) (b) Rules establishing requirements for submitting a request under sub. (3) (c) 1. and criteria for determining the amount of the increase in monthly subsidized guardianship payments that a county department, an Indian tribe, or the department shall offer if there has been a substantial change in circumstances and if there has been no substantiated report of abuse or neglect of the child by the person receiving those payments.

SB70-AA1,578 Section 578. 48.623 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA1,279,23 48.623 (8) Tribal agreements. (a) The department may enter into an agreement with the governing body of an Indian tribe to allow that governing body to administer subsidized guardianships ordered by a tribal court under a tribal law substantially similar to s. 48.977 (2) and to be reimbursed by the department for eligible tribal subsidized guardianship payments. An agreement under this paragraph shall require the governing body of an Indian tribe to comply with all requirements for administering subsidized guardianship that apply to counties and the department, including eligibility.

SB70-AA1,280,2 (b) A county department may provide the monthly payments under sub. (1) or (6) for guardianships of children ordered by the tribal court if the county department has entered into an agreement with the governing body of an Indian tribe to provide those payments.

SB70-AA1,579 Section 579. 48.685 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,280,18 48.685 (5) (a) Subject to par. (bm), the department may license to operate an entity, a county department or a child welfare agency may license to operate a foster home under s. 48.62, the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, an Indian tribe, or a county department may provide subsidized guardianship payments under s. 48.623 (6) to a person who otherwise may not be so licensed or provided those payments for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (a) 1. to 5., and an entity may employ, contract with, or permit to reside at the entity or permit to reside with a caregiver specified in sub. (1) (ag) 1. am. of the entity a person who otherwise may not be so employed, provided payments, or permitted to reside at the entity or with that caregiver for a reason specified in sub. (4m) (b) 1. to 5., if the person demonstrates to the department, county department, or child welfare agency or, in the case of an entity that is located within the boundaries of a reservation, to the person or body designated by the Indian tribe under sub. (5d) (a) 3., by clear and convincing evidence and in accordance with procedures established by the department by rule or by the tribe that he or she has been rehabilitated.

SB70-AA1,580 Section 580. 48.977 (3r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,281,11 48.977 (3r) (a) Guardian. Subsidized guardianship payments under s. 48.623 (1) may not be made to a guardian of a child unless a subsidized guardianship agreement under s. 48.623 (2) is entered into before the guardianship order is granted and the court either terminates any order specified in sub. (2) (a) or dismisses any proceeding in which the child has been adjudicated in need of protection or services as specified in sub. (2) (a). If a child's permanency plan calls for placement of the child in the home of a guardian and the provision of monthly subsidized guardianship payments to the guardian, the petitioner under sub. (4) (a) shall include in the petition under sub. (4) (b) a statement of the determinations made under s. 48.623 (1) and a request for the court to include in the court's findings under sub. (4) (d) a finding confirming those determinations. If the court confirms those determinations, appoints a guardian for the child under sub. (2), and either terminates any order specified in sub. (2) (a) or dismisses any proceeding in which the child is adjudicated to be in need of protection or services as specified in sub. (2) (a), the county department or, as provided in s. 48.623 (3) (a), an Indian tribe or the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments to the guardian under s. 48.623 (1).

SB70-AA1,581 Section 581. 48.977 (3r) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,282,2 48.977 (3r) (b) Successor guardian. Subsidized guardianship payments under s. 48.623 (6) (bm) may not be made to a successor guardian of a child unless the court makes a finding confirming that the successor guardian is named as a prospective successor guardian of the child in a subsidized guardianship agreement or amended subsidized guardianship agreement under s. 48.623 (2) that was entered into before the death or incapacity of the guardian and that the conditions specified in s. 48.623 (6) (bm) have been met, appoints the successor guardian to assume the duty and authority of guardianship as provided in sub. (5m), and either terminates any order specified in sub. (2) (a) or dismisses any proceeding in which the child has been adjudicated in need of protection or services as specified in sub. (2) (a). If the court makes that finding and appointment and either terminates such an order or dismisses such a proceeding, the county department or, as provided in s. 48.623 (3) (a), an Indian tribe or the department shall provide monthly subsidized guardianship payments to the successor guardian under s. 48.623 (6) (bm).”.

SB70-AA1,282,3 162. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA1,282,4 “ Section 582. 230.26 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,282,11 230.26 (4) Fringe benefits specifically authorized by statutes, with the exception of leave of absence with pay owing to sickness, deferred compensation plan participation under subch. VII of ch. 40, worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, group insurance, retirement, and social security coverage, shall be denied employees hired under this section. Such employees may not be considered permanent employees and do not qualify for tenure, vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, performance awards, or the right to compete in promotional processes.

SB70-AA1,583 Section 583. 230.35 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,283,2 230.35 (2) Leave of absence with pay owing to sickness and leave of absence without pay, other than annual leave and leave under s. 103.10, shall be regulated by rules of the administrator, except that unused sick leave shall accumulate from year to year. Employees appointed under s. 230.26 (1) shall accrue leave of absence with pay owing to sickness at the same rate as permanent and project state employees, and such leave shall be prorated if the employee works less than full-time. After July 1, 1973, employees appointed to career executive positions under the program established under s. 230.24 or positions designated in s. 19.42 (10) (L) or 20.923 (4), (7), (8), and (9) or authorized under s. 230.08 (2) (e) shall have any unused sick leave credits restored if they are reemployed in a career executive position or in a position under s. 19.42 (10) (L) or 20.923 (4), (7), (8), and (9) or authorized under s. 230.08 (2) (e), regardless of the duration of their absence. Restoration of unused sick leave credits if reemployment is to a position other than those specified above shall be in accordance with rules of the administrator.

SB70-AA1,9147 Section 9147. Nonstatutory provisions; University of Wisconsin System.

SB70-AA1,283,12 (1k) Paid sick leave for temporary employees. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall submit to the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration, with its recommendations for adjustments to compensation and employee benefits for employees of the system under s. 230.12 (3) (e) 1. for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, a plan to provide paid sick leave benefits to temporary employees of the system. The plan shall provide sick leave benefits at the same rate such benefits are provided to permanent and project employees of the system.”.

SB70-AA1,283,13 163. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA1,283,14 “ Section 9214. Fiscal changes; Employment Relations Commission.

SB70-AA1,283,23 (1k) General budget adjustments. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the employment relations commission under s. 20.425 (1) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2023-24 is decreased by $4,800 to adjust for funding of continuing position salaries, fringe benefits, lease and directed moves costs, and transfers from permanent property to supplies and services. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the employment relations commission under s. 20.425 (1) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2024-25 is decreased by $3,000 to adjust for funding of continuing position salaries, fringe benefits, lease and directed moves costs, and transfers from permanent property to supplies and services.”.

SB70-AA1,283,24 164. Page 374, line 11: after that line insert:

SB70-AA1,284,1 “ Section 584. 20.425 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,284,14 20.425 (1) (i) Fees, collective bargaining training, publications, and appeals. The amounts in the schedule for the performance of fact-finding, mediation, certification, and arbitration functions, for the provision of copies of transcripts, for the cost of operating training programs under ss. 111.09 (3), 111.71 (5m), and 111.94 (3), for the preparation of publications, transcripts, reports, and other copied material, and for costs related to conducting appeals under s. 230.45. All moneys received under ss. 111.09 (1) and (2), 111.70 (4) (d) 3. b., 111.71 (1) and (2), 111.83 (3) (b), 111.94 (1) and (2), and 230.45 (3), all moneys received from arbitrators and arbitration panel members, and individuals who are interested in serving in such positions, and from individuals and organizations who participate in other collective bargaining training programs conducted by the commission, and all moneys received from the sale of publications, transcripts, reports, and other copied material shall be credited to this appropriation account.

SB70-AA1,585 Section 585. 20.505 (1) (ks) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,284,22 20.505 (1) (ks) Collective bargaining grievance arbitrations. The amounts in the schedule for the payment of the state's share of costs related to collective bargaining grievance arbitrations under s. 111.86. All moneys received from state agencies or authorities for the purpose of reimbursing the state's share of the costs related to grievance arbitrations under s. 111.86 and to reimburse the state's share of costs for training related to grievance arbitrations shall be credited to this appropriation account.

SB70-AA1,586 Section 586. 20.921 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,285,3 20.921 (1) (a) 2. If the state employee is a public safety employee under s. 111.81 (15r) or is in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker under s. 111.81 (9b), payment of dues to employee organizations.

SB70-AA1,587 Section 587. 40.51 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,285,16 40.51 (7) (a) Any employer, other than the state, including an employer that is not a participating employer, may offer to all of its employees a health care coverage plan through a program offered by the group insurance board. Notwithstanding sub. (2) and ss. 40.05 (4) and 40.52 (1), the department may by rule establish different eligibility standards or contribution requirements for such employees and employers. Beginning on January 1, 2012, except as otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement under subch. IV of ch. 111 that covers public safety employees or transit employees and except as provided in par. (b), an employer may not offer a health care coverage plan to its employees under this subsection if the employer pays more than 88 percent of the average premium cost of plans offered in any tier with the lowest employee premium cost under this subsection.

SB70-AA1,588 Section 588. 46.2895 (8) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,286,5 46.2895 (8) (a) 1. If the long-term care district offers employment to any individual who was previously employed by a county, which participated in creating the district and at the time of the offer had not withdrawn or been removed from the district under sub. (14), and who while employed by the county performed duties relating to the same or a substantially similar function for which the individual is offered employment by the district and whose wages were established in who was covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the county under subch. IV of ch. 111 that is in effect on the date that the individual commences employment with the district, with respect to that individual, abide by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement concerning the individual's wages until the time of the expiration of that collective bargaining agreement or adoption of a collective bargaining agreement with the district under subch. IV of ch. 111 covering the individual as an employee of the district, whichever occurs first.

SB70-AA1,589 Section 589. 109.03 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,286,11 109.03 (1) (b) School district employees, cooperative educational service agency employees, and private school employees who voluntarily request payment over a 12-month period for personal services performed during the school year, unless, with respect to private school employees, the employees are covered under a valid collective bargaining agreement which precludes this method of payment.

SB70-AA1,590 Section 590. 111.70 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,287,3 111.70 (1) (a) “Collective bargaining" means the performance of the mutual obligation of a municipal employer, through its officers and agents, and the representative of its municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit, to meet and confer at reasonable times, in good faith, with the intention of reaching an agreement, or to resolve questions arising under such an agreement, with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment for public safety employees or, for transit employees and, or for municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit that contains a frontline worker; with respect to wages for general municipal employees, who are in a collective bargaining unit that does not contain a frontline worker; and with respect to a requirement of the municipal employer for a municipal employee to perform law enforcement and fire fighting services under s. 60.553, 61.66, or 62.13 (2e), except as provided in sub. (4) (mb) and (mc) and s. 40.81 (3) and except that a municipal employer shall not meet and confer with respect to any proposal to diminish or abridge the rights guaranteed to any public safety employees under ch. 164. Collective bargaining includes the reduction of any agreement reached to a written and signed document.

SB70-AA1,591 Section 591. 111.70 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,287,12 111.70 (1) (f) “Fair-share agreement" means an agreement between a municipal employer and a labor organization that represents public safety employees or, transit employees , or a frontline worker under which all or any of the public safety employees or transit employees in the collective bargaining unit or all or any of the employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker are required to pay their proportionate share of the cost of the collective bargaining process and contract administration measured by the amount of dues uniformly required of all members.

SB70-AA1,592 Section 592. 111.70 (1) (fd) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA1,287,15 111.70 (1) (fd) “Frontline worker” means a municipal employee who is determined to be a frontline worker under sub. (4) (bm) 2.

SB70-AA1,593 Section 593. 111.70 (1) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,287,18 111.70 (1) (fm) “General municipal employee" means a municipal employee who is not a public safety employee or, a transit employee, or a frontline worker.

SB70-AA1,594 Section 594. 111.70 (1) (n) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,287,24 111.70 (1) (n) “Referendum" means a proceeding conducted by the commission in which public safety employees or transit employees in a collective bargaining unit or municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker may cast a secret ballot on the question of authorizing a labor organization and the employer to continue a fair-share agreement.

SB70-AA1,595 Section 595. 111.70 (1) (p) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,288,2 111.70 (1) (p) “Transit employee" means a municipal employee who is determined to be a transit employee under sub. (4) (bm) 1.

SB70-AA1,596 Section 596. 111.70 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 111.70 (2) (a) and amended to read:

SB70-AA1,289,11 111.70 (2) (a) Municipal employees have the right of self-organization, and the right to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in lawful, concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. Municipal employees have the right to refrain from any and all such activities. A general municipal employee may not be covered by a fair-share agreement unless the general municipal employee is in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker. Unless the general municipal employee is covered by a fair-share agreement, a general municipal employee has the right to refrain from paying dues while remaining a member of a collective bargaining unit. A public safety employee or, a transit employee, however, or a municipal employee in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker may be covered by a fair-share agreement and be required to pay dues in the manner provided in a the fair-share agreement; a fair-share agreement covering a public safety employee or a transit employee must contain a provision requiring the municipal employer to deduct the amount of dues as certified by the labor organization from the earnings of the employee affected by the fair-share agreement and to pay the amount deducted to the labor organization. A fair-share agreement covering a public safety employee or transit employee is subject to the right of the municipal employer or a labor organization to petition the commission to conduct a referendum. Such petition must be supported by proof that at least 30 percent of the employees in the collective bargaining unit desire that the fair-share agreement be terminated. Upon so finding, the commission shall conduct a referendum. If the continuation of the agreement is not supported by at least the majority of the eligible employees, it shall terminate. The commission shall declare any fair-share agreement suspended upon such conditions and for such time as the commission decides whenever it finds that the labor organization involved has refused on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, creed, or sex to receive as a member any public safety employee or transit eligible municipal employee of the municipal employer in the bargaining unit involved, and such agreement is subject to this duty of the commission. Any of the parties to such agreement or any public safety employee or transit municipal employee covered by the agreement may come before the commission, as provided in s. 111.07, and ask the performance of this duty.

SB70-AA1,597 Section 597. 111.70 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA1,289,19 111.70 (2) (b) General municipal employees who are not in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker have the right to have their municipal employer consult with them, through a representative of their own choosing, with no intention of reaching an agreement, with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment. The right may be exercised either when the municipal employer proposes or implements policy changes affecting wages, hours, or conditions of employment or, if no policy changes are proposed or implemented, at least quarterly.

SB70-AA1,598 Section 598. 111.70 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,289,24 111.70 (3) (a) 3. To encourage or discourage a membership in any labor organization by discrimination in regard to hiring, tenure, or other terms or conditions of employment; but the prohibition shall not apply to a fair-share agreement that covers public safety employees or transit employees.

SB70-AA1,599 Section 599. 111.70 (3) (a) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,290,10 111.70 (3) (a) 5. To violate any collective bargaining agreement previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages, hours, and conditions of employment affecting public safety employees or, transit employees, or municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker, including an agreement to arbitrate questions arising as to the meaning or application of the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or to accept the terms of such arbitration award, where previously the parties have agreed to accept such award as final and binding upon them or to violate any collective bargaining agreement affecting a collective bargaining unit containing only general municipal employees, that was previously agreed upon by the parties with respect to wages.

SB70-AA1,600 Section 600. 111.70 (3) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,290,19 111.70 (3) (a) 6. To deduct labor organization dues from the earnings of a public safety employee or, a transit employee, or a municipal employee who is in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker unless the municipal employer has been presented with an individual order therefor, signed by the employee personally, and terminable by at least the end of any year of its life or earlier by the public safety employee or transit municipal employee giving at least 30 days' written notice of such termination to the municipal employer and to the representative organization, except when a fair-share agreement is in effect.

SB70-AA1,601 Section 601. 111.70 (3) (a) 9. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,290,25 111.70 (3) (a) 9. If the collective bargaining unit contains a public safety employee or, transit employee, or frontline worker, after a collective bargaining agreement expires and before another collective bargaining agreement takes effect, to fail to follow any fair-share agreement in the expired collective bargaining agreement.

SB70-AA1,602 Section 602. 111.70 (3g) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,291,5 111.70 (3g) Wage deduction prohibition. A municipal employer may not deduct labor organization dues from the earnings of a general municipal employee, unless the general municipal employee is in a collective bargaining unit that contains a frontline worker, or from the earnings of a supervisor.

SB70-AA1,603 Section 603. 111.70 (4) (bm) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB70-AA1,291,7 111.70 (4) (bm) (title) Transit employee or frontline worker determination.

SB70-AA1,604 Section 604. 111.70 (4) (bm) of the statutes is renumbered 111.70 (4) (bm) 1.

SB70-AA1,605 Section 605. 111.70 (4) (bm) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB70-AA1,291,15 111.70 (4) (bm) 2. The commission shall determine that a municipal employee is a frontline worker if the commission finds that the municipal employee has regular job duties that include interacting with members of the public or with large populations of people or that directly involve the maintenance of public works. The commission may not determine that a public safety employee or a transit employee is a frontline worker.

SB70-AA1,606 Section 606. 111.70 (4) (cg) (title), 1., 2., 3., 4. and 5. of the statutes are amended to read:

SB70-AA1,292,5 111.70 (4) (cg) (title) Methods for peaceful settlement of disputes; transit employees and municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker. 1. `Notice of commencement of contract negotiations.' To advise the commission of the commencement of contract negotiations involving a collective bargaining unit containing transit employees or a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker, whenever either party requests the other to reopen negotiations under a binding collective bargaining agreement, or the parties otherwise commence negotiations if no collective bargaining agreement exists, the party requesting negotiations shall immediately notify the commission in writing. Upon failure of the requesting party to provide notice, the other party may provide notice to the commission. The notice shall specify the expiration date of the existing collective bargaining agreement, if any, and shall provide any additional information the commission may require on a form provided by the commission.

SB70-AA1,292,13 2. `Presentation of initial proposals; open meetings.' The meetings between parties to a collective bargaining agreement or proposed collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter that involve a collective bargaining unit containing a transit employee or a frontline worker and that are held to present initial bargaining proposals, along with supporting rationale, are open to the public. Each party shall submit its initial bargaining proposals to the other party in writing. Failure to comply with this subdivision does not invalidate a collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter.

SB70-AA1,292,19 3. `Mediation.' The commission or its designee shall function as mediator in labor disputes involving transit employees or municipal employees in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker upon request of one or both of the parties, or upon initiation of the commission. The function of the mediator is to encourage voluntary settlement by the parties. No mediator has the power of compulsion.

SB70-AA1,292,25 4. `Grievance arbitration.' Parties to a dispute pertaining to the meaning or application of the terms of a written collective bargaining agreement involving a collective bargaining unit containing a transit employee or a frontline worker may agree in writing to have the commission or any other appropriate agency serve as arbitrator or may designate any other competent, impartial, and disinterested person to serve as an arbitrator.

SB70-AA1,293,10 5. `Voluntary impasse resolution procedures.' In addition to the other impasse resolution procedures provided in this paragraph, a municipal employer that employs a transit employee or a municipal employee in a collective bargaining unit containing a frontline worker and a labor organization may at any time, as a permissive subject of bargaining, agree in writing to a dispute settlement procedure, including binding interest arbitration, which is acceptable to the parties for resolving an impasse over terms of any collective bargaining agreement under this subchapter. The parties shall file a copy of the agreement with the commission. If the parties agree to any form of binding interest arbitration, the arbitrator shall give weight to the factors enumerated under subds. 7. and 7g.

SB70-AA1,607 Section 607. 111.70 (4) (cg) 6. a. of the statutes is amended to read: