SB 193 - FINAL VERSION

8Jun2023... 1800h

2023 SESSION

23-0910

05/04

SENATE BILL 193

AN ACT relative to the obligation of collective bargaining units to negotiate in good faith.

SPONSORS: Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Rep. B. Sullivan, Sull. 1; Rep. Soucy, Merr. 21; Rep. Muirhead, Graf. 12

COMMITTEE: Commerce

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill further defines "good faith" for the purposes of collective bargaining negotiations.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

8Jun2023... 1800h 23-0910

05/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT relative to the obligation of collective bargaining units to negotiate in good faith.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  Obligation to Bargain; Good Faith.  Amend RSA 273-A:3, I to read as follows:

I.  It is the obligation of the public employer and the employee organization certified by the board as the exclusive representative of the bargaining unit to negotiate in good faith.  "Good faith" negotiation involves meeting at reasonable times and places in an effort to reach agreement on the terms of employment, and to cooperate in mediation and fact-finding required by this chapter, but the obligation to negotiate in good faith shall not compel either party to agree to a proposal or to make a concession. “Good faith” shall also mean to meet within 10 business days after receipt of a written request from the other party to meet to bargain.  This 10-day requirement may be extended by mutual agreement but it shall not be considered negotiating in bad faith to refuse to extend the timeline.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

VETOED August 4, 2023