Senate Bill 269 would modify existing state law relating to collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Specifically, SB 269 requires that the monetary terms of CBA negotiated with state employee unions must be submitted to the legislature by the 60th day of session.

In accordance with the Alaska Supreme Court's decision in University of Alaska Classified Employees Assoc., et. al. v. University of Alaska, et. al., Supreme Court No. S-8366 (Sept. 24, 1999), SB 269 provides that if the legislature does not fund the monetary terms of a CBA, none of the agreement's provisions will take effect.

The Court's ruling highlights a significant problem for the Legislature. Contract negotiations between the state and state employee unions are confidential. Often the Legislature does not receive the monetary terms of these negotiated CBAs until the final days of session. As a result, the Legislature faces the challenge of making reasoned decisions involving complex contractual terms in a short period of time.

SB 269 would alleviate this problem by requiring all monetary terms of CBAs to be submitted by the 60th day of the Legislative session. The state could begin the negotiation process at an earlier date and still provide a significant amount of time within the calendar year for legislative review of the terms.

SB 269 also gives the legislature the discretion to review changes to a timely filed but previously rejected CBA for consideration in the calendar year under which that agreement was negotiated.