2001-2002
Legislative Issues
2001
1. SB 1394 AAC
Procedures for State Employee Collective Bargaining. Expanded timelines for negotiations to
better fit the legislative calendar and prevented the state from holding up
implementation of an entire arbitration award in the event a single issue is
disputed. Y=Correct, W=Wrong. House passed 102-49, Senate passed 23-12, Governor Rowland vetoed this legislation.
2. HB 6886 AAC
Eligibility for Hazardous Duty Disability Compensation Benefits and Portal-to-Portal
Worker’s Compensation Benefits. Enabled corrections officers to qualify for
hazardous duty workers’ compensation benefits anywhere on the job.
Y=Correct, W=Wrong, House passed 136-2,
Senate passed on consent 35-0, signed into law.
3. HB 6931 AAC
Education and Equitable Wages for Early Childhood Education Professionals. Increases the number of highly
qualified early childhood education professionals. Y=Correct, W=Wrong, House
passed 147-0, Senate passed on consent
35-0, signed into law.
4. HB 6859 AA Enhancing Benefits in the Police
Officer and Firefighter’s Survivor Benefit Fund and the Municipal Employee
Retirement System.
Y=Correct, W=Wrong, House passed 144-0,
Senate passed on consent 35-0, signed into law.
5. SB 1034 AA Establishing Collective
Bargaining Rights for Department of Correction Officers. Allows the Department
of Corrections “Officers” the freedom to form a union. Y=Correct,
W=Wrong, House passed 129-18, Senate passed 25-10,
signed into law.
6. HB 6952, House Amendment LCO #4580, AA Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds by the City
of
SB 1131, Senate Amendment LCO# 7484, AAC The
Property Tax Exemption for Machinery and Equipment in Enterprise Zones (SENATE ONLY). This amendment required
companies receiving state economic development assistance to pay a standard
wage and maintain jobs in
2002
7.
SB 63 AAC
Annual Adjustments to the Prevailing Wage. Provides cost of living adjustments to
construction workers on long-term projects under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Public Works. Y=Correct, W=Wrong, House passed 106-38, and
Senate passed 29-6, signed into law.
8.
HB 5057 AA Increasing the Minimum Wage. Increases the state
minimum wage to $7.10 an hour over two installments. Y=Correct, W=Wrong,
House passed 98-47, and the Senate passed on consent 36-0, signed into law.
9.
HB 5575 AA Protecting Displaced Workers. Requires any new food
service contractor at
10.
HB 5496 AAC Early Childhood Education and Teachers’ Retirement (HOUSE ONLY). An
education reform bill that included a provision enabling teachers to retire
after 32 years of service (instead of 35) without any penalty.
Y=Correct, W=Wrong, House passed this 139-7, no action in the Senate due to Republican
filibuster.
SB 416 AAC
Working Hours of Certain Hospital Employees (SENATE ONLY). Banned hospitals from requiring nurses to
work mandatory overtime. Y=Correct, W=Wrong, Senate placed this on their consent 34-0, No
action in the House.