PRINTER'S NO. 1736

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 1487 Session of 1995


        INTRODUCED BY PLATTS, WAUGH, TIGUE, ARGALL, STISH, MELIO,
           E. Z. TAYLOR, STEIL AND GIGLIOTTI, APRIL 26, 1995

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 26, 1995

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
     2     act relating to the public school system, including certain
     3     provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
     4     schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
     5     laws relating thereto," further providing for the definition
     6     of "strike"; and further providing for collective bargaining.

     7     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     8  hereby enacts as follows:
     9     Section 1.  The definition of "strike" in section 1101-A of
    10  the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
    11  School Code of 1949, added July 9, 1992 (P.L.403, No.88), is
    12  amended to read:
    13     Section 1101-A.  Definitions.--When used in this article, the
    14  following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
    15     * * *
    16     "Strike" shall mean concerted action in failing to report for
    17  duty, the wilful absence from one's position, the stoppage of
    18  work, slowdown or the abstinence, in whole or in part, from the
    19  full, faithful and proper performance of the duties of


     1  employment for the purpose of inducing, influencing or coercing
     2  a change in the conditions or compensation or the rights,
     3  privileges or obligations of employment. The employe
     4  organization having called a lawful strike once and unilaterally
     5  returned to work may only call a lawful strike once more during
     6  the school year. A written notice of the intent to strike shall
     7  be delivered by the employe organization to the superintendent,
     8  executive director or the director no later than forty-eight
     9  (48) hours prior to the commencement of any strike, and no
    10  strike may occur sooner than forty-eight (48) hours following
    11  the last notification of intent to strike. Upon receipt of the
    12  notification of intent to strike, the superintendent, executive
    13  director or the director may cancel school for the effective
    14  date of the strike. A decision to cancel school may, however, be
    15  withdrawn by the superintendent, executive director or the
    16  director. Any subsequent change of intents to strike shall not
    17  affect the decision to cancel school on the day of the intended
    18  strike. For the purposes of this article, the decision to cancel
    19  school on the day of the intended strike shall not be considered
    20  a lockout.
    21     Section 2.  Article XI-A of the act is amended by adding a
    22  subdivision to read:
    23          (c)  Selection of Collective Bargaining Process.
    24     Section 1121-A.  Window of Decision.--(a)  The school board
    25  of each public school district must decide not earlier than two
    26  hundred two (202) days prior to June 30 or December 31,
    27  whichever is the end of the school entity's fiscal year, and in
    28  no event later than one hundred eighty-eight (188) days prior to
    29  June 30 or December 31, whichever is the end of the school
    30  entity's fiscal year, which collective bargaining process it
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     1  wants to negotiate within in order to reach an employment
     2  agreement with its school district's employe organization.
     3     (b)  The school board of each public school district shall
     4  choose between the collective bargaining procedures set forth in
     5  sections 1131-A through 1172-A inclusive or sections 1131-A,
     6  1132-A and 1181-A through 1192-A inclusive taken as a whole.
     7  Once a school board has made a decision under this section, said
     8  school board cannot reverse its decision for the remainder of
     9  the ongoing bargaining process.
    10     Section 3.  The heading of subdivision (c) of Article XI-A of
    11  the act, added July 9, 1992 (P.L.403, No.88), is amended to
    12  read:
    13             [(c)] (d)  Collective Bargaining Impasse.
    14     Section 4.  Sections 1121-A, 1122-A, 1123-A, 1124-A, 1125-A,
    15  1126-A and 1127-A of the act, added July 9, 1992 (P.L.403,
    16  No.88), are amended to read:
    17     Section [1121-A] 1131-A.  Submission to Mediation.--(a)  If,
    18  after a reasonable period of negotiation, a dispute or impasse
    19  exists between the representatives of the employer and the
    20  employe organization, the parties may voluntarily submit to
    21  mediation, but, if no agreement is reached between the parties
    22  within forty-five (45) days after negotiations have commenced,
    23  but in no event later than [one hundred twenty-six (126)] one
    24  hundred fifty-seven (157) days prior to June 30 or December 31,
    25  whichever is the end of the school entity's fiscal year, and
    26  mediation has not been utilized by the parties, both parties
    27  shall immediately in writing call on the service of the
    28  Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation.
    29     (b)  The Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation shall employ a
    30  complement of not less than twenty-five (25) mediators which
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     1  shall be available to mediate according to the provisions of
     2  subsection (a).
     3     Section [1122-A] 1132-A.  Fact-finding Panels.--(a)  (1)
     4  Once mediation has commenced, it shall continue for so long as
     5  the parties have not reached an agreement. If, however, an
     6  agreement has not been reached within [forty-five (45)] forty-
     7  three (43) days after mediation has commenced or in no event
     8  later than [eighty-one (81)] one hundred fourteen (114) days
     9  prior to June 30 or December 31, whichever is the end of the
    10  school entity's fiscal year, the Bureau of Mediation shall
    11  notify the board of the parties' failure to reach an agreement
    12  and of whether either party has requested the appointment of a
    13  fact-finding panel.
    14     (2)  No later than [eighty-one (81)] one hundred fourteen
    15  (114) days prior to June 30 or December 31, whichever is the end
    16  of the school entity's fiscal year, either party may request the
    17  board to appoint a fact-finding panel. Upon receiving such
    18  request, the board shall appoint a fact-finding panel which may
    19  consist of either one (1) or three (3) members. The panel so
    20  designated or selected shall hold hearings and take oral or
    21  written testimony and shall have subpoena power. If, during this
    22  time, the parties have not reached an independent agreement, the
    23  panel shall make findings of fact and recommendations. The panel
    24  shall not find or recommend that the parties accept or adopt an
    25  impasse procedure.
    26     (3)  The parties may mutually agree to fact-finding, and the
    27  board shall appoint a fact-finding panel as provided for in
    28  clause (2) at any time except that the parties may not mutually
    29  agree to fact-finding during mandated final best-offer
    30  arbitration.
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     1     (4)  The board may implement fact-finding and appoint a panel
     2  as provided for in clause (2) at a time other than that mandated
     3  in this section, except that fact-finding may not be implemented
     4  between the period of notice to strike and the conclusion of a
     5  strike or during final best-offer arbitration. If the board
     6  chooses not to implement fact-finding prior to a strike, the
     7  board shall issue a report to the parties listing the reasons
     8  for not implementing fact-finding if either party requests one.
     9     (b)  The findings of fact and recommendations shall be sent
    10  by registered mail to the board and to both parties not more
    11  than [forty (40)] forty-one (41) days after the Bureau of
    12  Mediation has notified the board as provided in subsection (a).
    13     (c)  Not more than ten (10) days after the findings and
    14  recommendations shall have been sent, the parties shall notify
    15  the board and each other whether or not they accept the
    16  recommendations of the fact-finding panel, and, if they do not,
    17  the panel shall publicize its findings of fact and
    18  recommendations.
    19     (d)  Not less than five (5) days nor more than [ten (10)]
    20  seven (7) days after the publication of the findings of fact and
    21  recommendations, the parties shall again inform the board and
    22  each other whether or not they will accept the recommendations
    23  of the fact-finding panel.
    24     (e)  The board shall establish, after consulting
    25  representatives of employe organizations and of employers,
    26  panels of qualified persons broadly representative of the public
    27  to serve as members of fact-finding panels. The board shall,
    28  within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this act,
    29  increase the number of available panels of qualified persons to
    30  serve as members of fact-finding panels to meet the expanded
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     1  role of fact-finding as provided for in this act.
     2     (f)  The Commonwealth shall pay one-half of the cost of the
     3  fact-finding panel; the remaining one-half of the cost shall be
     4  divided equally between the parties. The board shall establish
     5  rules and regulations under which panels shall operate,
     6  including, but not limited to, compensation for panel members.
     7     Section [1123-A] 1133-A.  Negotiated Final Best-Offer
     8  Arbitration.--(a)  The parties to a collective bargaining
     9  agreement involving public school employes shall be required to
    10  bargain upon the issue of acceptance and adoption of one of the
    11  following approved impasse procedures, with the proviso that
    12  such an obligation does not compel either party to agree to a
    13  proposal or require making a concession:
    14     (1)  Arbitration under which the award is confined to a
    15  choice among one of the following single packages:
    16     (i)  the last offer of the representative of the employer;
    17     (ii)  the last offer of the representative of the employes;
    18  or
    19     (iii)  the fact-finder's recommendations, should there be a
    20  fact-finder's report.
    21     (2)  Arbitration under which the award is confined to a
    22  choice among one of the following on an issue-by-issue basis:
    23     (i)  the last offer of the representative of the employer;
    24     (ii)  the last offer of the representative of the employes;
    25  or
    26     (iii)  the fact-finder's recommendations, should there be a
    27  fact-finder's report.
    28     (3)  Arbitration under which the award is confined to a
    29  choice among one of the following on the basis of economic and
    30  noneconomic issues as separate units:
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     1     (i)  the last offer of the representative of the employer;
     2     (ii)  the last offer of the representative of the employes;
     3  or
     4     (iii)  the fact-finder's recommendations, should there be a
     5  fact-finder's report.
     6     (b)  As used in this section, "economic issues" shall mean
     7  wages, hours, salary, fringe benefits or any form of monetary
     8  compensation for services rendered.
     9     Section [1124-A] 1134-A.  Method of Selection of
    10  Arbitrators.--The board of arbitration shall be composed of
    11  three (3) members. Arbitrators as referred to in this article
    12  shall be selected in the following manner:
    13     (1)  Each party shall select one (1) member of the panel
    14  within five (5) days of the parties' submission to final best-
    15  offer arbitration. Each arbitrator shall be knowledgeable in the
    16  school-related fields of budget, finance, educational programs
    17  and taxation.
    18     (2)  The third arbitrator shall be selected from a list of
    19  seven (7) arbitrators furnished by the American Arbitration
    20  Association within five (5) days of the publication of the list.
    21  Each of the seven (7) arbitrators shall be a resident of this
    22  Commonwealth and knowledgeable in the areas necessary to
    23  effectively make a determination. Each party shall alternately
    24  strike one name until one shall remain. The employer shall
    25  strike the first name. The person so remaining shall be the
    26  third member and chairman.
    27     (3)  Payment of arbitrators shall be as follows:
    28     (i)  For voluntary arbitration, each party shall pay the cost
    29  of the arbitrator selected by it under clause (1) of this
    30  section. The cost of the third arbitrator shall be divided
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     1  equally between the parties.
     2     (ii)  For mandatory arbitration, the Commonwealth shall pay
     3  one-half of the cost of the arbitrators; the remaining one-half
     4  of the cost shall be divided equally between the parties.
     5     Section [1125-A] 1135-A.  Final Best-Offer Arbitration.--(a)
     6  At any time prior to mandated final best-offer arbitration,
     7  either the employer or the employe organization may request
     8  final best-offer arbitration unless fact-finding has been
     9  initiated as provided in section [1122-A] 1132-A. If fact-
    10  finding has been initiated, the parties shall complete fact-
    11  finding before requesting final best-offer arbitration. If
    12  either party requests final best-offer arbitration, the
    13  requesting party shall notify the Bureau of Mediation, the board
    14  and the opposing party in writing. The opposing party shall,
    15  within ten (10) days of the notification by the requesting
    16  party, notify the requesting party in writing of its agreement
    17  or refusal to submit to final best-offer arbitration. No strikes
    18  or lockouts shall occur during this ten (10) day period or until
    19  the requesting party is notified by the opposing party that they
    20  refuse to submit to final best-offer arbitration. Arbitration
    21  provided for in this subsection shall only occur if both parties
    22  agree to submit to final best-offer arbitration.
    23     (b)  If a strike by employes or a lockout by an employer will
    24  prevent the school entity from providing the period of
    25  instruction required by section 1501 by the later of:
    26     (1)  June 15; or
    27     (2)  the last day of the school entity's scheduled school
    28  year;
    29  the parties shall submit to mandated final best-offer
    30  arbitration consistent with the arbitration option negotiated. A
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     1  return to work for the purpose of submitting to final best-offer
     2  arbitration shall not be considered a unilateral return to work.
     3     (c)  If the parties are unable to agree on the adoption of
     4  one of the approved impasse procedures under section [1123-A]
     5  1133-A, the mediator appointed pursuant to section [1121-A]
     6  1131-A shall select the procedure.
     7     (d)  Within [ten (10)] seven (7) days of submission to final
     8  best-offer arbitration, the parties shall submit to the
     9  arbitrators their final best contract offer with certification
    10  that the offer was delivered to the opposing party, together
    11  with documentation supporting the reasonableness of their offer.
    12  This documentation shall include, but not be limited to, the
    13  following:
    14     (1)  The public interest.
    15     (2)  The interest and welfare of the employe organization.
    16     (3)  The financial capability of the school entity.
    17     (4)  The results of negotiations between the parties prior to
    18  submission of last best contract offers.
    19     (5)  Changes in the cost of living.
    20     (6)  The existing terms and conditions of employment of the
    21  employe organization members and those of similar groups.
    22     (7)  Such other documentation as the arbitration panel shall
    23  deem relevant.
    24     (e)  Arbitration shall be limited to unresolved issues.
    25  Unresolved issues shall mean those issues not agreed to in
    26  writing prior to the start of arbitration.
    27     (f)  The parties may mutually agree to submit to final best-
    28  offer arbitration at any time except during fact-finding or
    29  during mandated final best-offer arbitration.
    30     (g)  Upon submission to the arbitrator of both parties' final
    19950H1487B1736                  - 9 -

     1  best offers under subsection (a) or (b), the employer shall
     2  post, within the time limits described in subsection (d), the
     3  final best contract offers in the school entity's main office
     4  for the purpose of soliciting public comments thereon. Copies of
     5  both parties' final best offers shall be available from the
     6  school entity's main office. The cost of copies shall be
     7  established by the school entity and shall be paid by the
     8  requestor.
     9     (h)  The public comment period shall close within [ten (10)]
    10  seven (7) days of the first day of posting. All public comments
    11  shall be directed to the arbitrators for consideration who shall
    12  provide them on request to the employer and to the employes'
    13  organization.
    14     (i)  Within ten (10) days of the selection of the third
    15  arbitrator of the arbitration panel, the arbitrators shall begin
    16  hearings at which they will hear arguments from representatives
    17  of the employer and of the employes in support of their
    18  respective last best contract offers under subsection (a) or
    19  (b). At least five (5) days prior to the hearing, a written
    20  notice of the date, time and place of such hearing shall be sent
    21  to the representatives of both the employer and employes which
    22  are parties to the dispute. This written notice shall also be
    23  sent to the fiscal authority having budgetary responsibility or
    24  charged with making appropriations for the employer, and a
    25  representative designated by such body shall be heard at the
    26  hearing upon request of such body or of the employer as part of
    27  the presentation of the employer.
    28     (j)  Not later than twenty (20) days after the hearing
    29  pursuant to subsection (i), the arbitrators shall:
    30     (1)  examine each item of dispute;
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     1     (2)  make a determination in writing consistent with the
     2  arbitration option agreed to by the parties; and
     3     (3)  forward a copy of the written determination to both
     4  parties involved in the dispute and to the board.
     5     (k)  The determination of the majority of the arbitrators
     6  reached as provided under either subsection (a) or (b) shall be
     7  final and binding upon the employer, employes and employe
     8  organization involved and constitutes a mandate to the school
     9  entity to take whatever action necessary to carry out the
    10  determination, provided that within ten (10) days of the receipt
    11  of the determination the employe organization or the employer
    12  does not consider and reject the determination at a properly
    13  convened special or regular meeting. This determination
    14  includes, but is not limited to, a determination which requires
    15  a legislative enactment by the employer prior to or as a
    16  condition for its implementation, including, without limitation,
    17  the levy and imposition of taxes.
    18     (l)  No appeal challenging the determination reached as
    19  provided under subsection (a) or (b) shall be allowed to any
    20  court unless the award resulted from fraud, corruption or wilful
    21  misconduct of the arbitrators. If a court determines that this
    22  has occurred, it shall declare the award null and void. An
    23  appeal of the award shall be made to the court of common pleas
    24  of the judicial district encompassing the respective school
    25  district.
    26     (m)  If the employer or the employe organization rejects the
    27  determination of the majority of the arbitrators:
    28     (1)  The employe organization may initiate a legal strike or
    29  resume a legal strike initiated prior to submission to final
    30  best-offer arbitration.
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     1     (2)  The employer may hire substitutes as provided under
     2  subsection (b) of section 1172-A.
     3     (3)  The employer may initiate a legal lockout or resume a
     4  legal lockout initiated prior to submission to final best-offer
     5  arbitration.
     6     Section [1126-A] 1136-A.  Time Frame.--The time periods set
     7  forth in this article are mandatory and shall not be construed
     8  to be directory.
     9     Section [1127-A] 1137-A.  Exception.--Any school district of
    10  the first class with an appointed school board and the public
    11  employes of that school district as defined in the act of July
    12  23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the "Public Employe
    13  Relations Act," shall comply with and be subject to the binding
    14  arbitration provisions of the "Public Employe Relations Act" and
    15  shall not be subject to the provisions of section [1123-A, 1124-
    16  A or 1125-A] 1133-A, 1134-A or 1135-A.
    17     Section 5.  The heading of subdivision (d) of Article XI-A,
    18  added July 9, 1992 (P.L.403, No.88), is amended to read:
    19                  [(d)] (e)  Strikes and Lockouts.
    20     Section 6.  Sections 1131-A and 1132-A of the act, added July
    21  9, 1992 (P.L.403, No.88), are amended to read:
    22     Section [1131-A] 1141-A.  Strikes Prohibited in Certain
    23  Circumstances.--A strike must cease where the parties request
    24  fact-finding for the duration of the fact-finding. A strike must
    25  end where the parties agree to arbitration. Strikes are
    26  prohibited:
    27     (1)  During the period of up to ten (10) days provided for
    28  under section [1125-A(a)] 1135-A(a).
    29     (2)  During final best-offer arbitration, including the
    30  period of up to ten (10) days after receipt of the determination
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     1  of the arbitrators during which the governing body of the school
     2  entity may consider the determination.
     3     (3)  When the arbitrators' determination becomes final and
     4  binding.
     5     Section [1132-A] 1142-A.  Lockouts Prohibited in Certain
     6  Circumstances.--A lockout must cease where the parties request
     7  fact-finding for the duration of the fact-finding. A lockout
     8  must end where the parties agree to arbitration. Lockouts are
     9  prohibited:
    10     (1)  During the period of up to ten (10) days provided for
    11  under section [1125-A(a)] 1135-A(a).
    12     (2)  During final best-offer arbitration, including the
    13  period of up to ten (10) days after receipt of the determination
    14  of the arbitrators during which the employer may consider the
    15  determination.
    16     (3)  When the arbitrators' determination becomes final and
    17  binding.
    18     Section 7.  The headings of subdivisions (e), (f) and (g) of
    19  Article XI-A of the act, added July 9, 1992 (P.L.403, No.88),
    20  are amended to read:
    21            [(e)] (f)  Collective Bargaining Agreement.
    22                 [(f)] (g)  Secretary of Education.
    23                      [(g)] (h)  Prohibitions.
    24     Section 8.  Article XI-A of the act is amended by adding
    25  subdivisions to read:
    26             (i)  Final Best-Offer Binding Arbitration.
    27     Section 1181-A.  Voluntary Final Best-Offer Binding
    28  Arbitration.--(a)  The parties to a collective bargaining
    29  agreement involving public school employes can mutually choose
    30  to submit to final best-offer binding arbitration at any time
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     1  prior to the initiation of fact-finding under section 1132-A, or
     2  after a fact-finding report has been issued pursuant to section
     3  1132-A, but in no event more than two hundred two (202) days
     4  prior to June 30 or December 31, whichever is the end of the
     5  school entity's fiscal year.
     6     (b)  If final best-offer binding arbitration is mutually
     7  submitted to after a fact-finding report has been issued
     8  pursuant to section 1132-A, then publication of the fact-finding
     9  report is not required.
    10     Section 1182-A.  Mandatory Final Best-Offer Binding
    11  Arbitration.--If the parties to a collective bargaining
    12  agreement involving public school employes have not reached an
    13  agreement within seven (7) days after publication of a fact-
    14  finding report pursuant to section 1132-A, but in no event later
    15  than fifty-six (56) days prior to June 30 or December 31,
    16  whichever is the end of the school entity's fiscal year, the
    17  parties shall submit to final best-offer binding arbitration.
    18     Section 1183-A.  Selection of Arbitrators.--(a)  The
    19  arbitration panel shall be the president judge of the court of
    20  common pleas of the judicial district having jurisdiction over
    21  the school district for those judicial districts with four or
    22  fewer judges.
    23     (b)  The arbitration panel shall be the president judge of
    24  the court of common pleas, who shall serve as chairman of the
    25  panel, and two additional judges of the court of common pleas of
    26  the judicial district having jurisdiction over the school
    27  district for those judicial districts with five or more judges.
    28  The additional two judges shall be selected from a list of all
    29  the judges in the judicial district, with each party to the
    30  collective bargaining agreement striking one name from the list
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     1  until two shall remain. The employer shall strike the first
     2  name. The two (2) judges remaining shall be the two (2)
     3  additional members.
     4     (c)  For those school districts which cross judicial district
     5  lines, the judicial district having jurisdiction shall be the
     6  district in which the majority of the school district's students
     7  reside.
     8     Section 1184-A.  Scope of Arbitration.--Arbitration shall be
     9  limited to unresolved issues. Unresolved issues shall mean those
    10  issues not agreed to in writing prior to the start of the
    11  arbitration.
    12     Section 1185-A.  Arbitration Determination.--The
    13  determination of the arbitration panel with regard to the
    14  arbitration of a collective bargaining agreement shall be
    15  confined to a choice between the final contract offer of the
    16  employer, taken as a whole, and the final contract offer of the
    17  employe organization, taken as a whole.
    18     Section 1186-A.  Arbitration Procedure.--(a)  Within seven
    19  (7) days of submission to final best-offer binding arbitration,
    20  whether under section 1181-A(a) or 1182-A, the parties to the
    21  collective bargaining agreement shall submit to the arbitration
    22  panel their final best contract offer with certification that
    23  the offer was delivered to the opposing party, together with
    24  documentation supporting the reasonableness of their offer. This
    25  documentation shall include, but not be limited to, the
    26  following:
    27     (1)  The public interest.
    28     (2)  The interest and welfare of the employe organization.
    29     (3)  The financial capability of the school entity.
    30     (4)  The results of the negotiations between the parties
    19950H1487B1736                 - 15 -

     1  prior to submission of final best contract offers.
     2     (5)  Changes in the cost of living.
     3     (6)  The existing terms and conditions of employment of the
     4  employe organization members.
     5     (7)  Such other documentation as the arbitration panel shall
     6  deem relevant.
     7     (b)  Upon submission to the arbitration panel of both
     8  parties' final best offers, under section 1181-A(a) or 1182-A,
     9  the employer shall post, within seven (7) days, the final best
    10  contract offers in the school entity's main office for the
    11  purpose of soliciting public comments thereon. Copies of both
    12  parties' final best offers shall be available from the school
    13  entity's main office. The cost of copies shall be established by
    14  the school entity and shall be paid by the requestor.
    15     (c)  The public comment period shall close within seven (7)
    16  days of the first day of posting. All public comments shall be
    17  directed to the arbitration panel for consideration who shall
    18  provide them on request to the employer and to the employes'
    19  organization.
    20     Section 1187-A.  Arbitration Hearing.--Within twenty-one (21)
    21  days after receiving both parties' final best offers, but in no
    22  event later than thirty-five (35) days prior to June 30 or
    23  December 31, whichever is the end of the school entity's fiscal
    24  year, the arbitration panel shall begin hearings at which the
    25  panel will hear arguments from representatives of the employer
    26  and of the employes in support of their respective final best
    27  contract offers under section 1181-A(a) or 1182-A. At least five
    28  (5) days prior to the hearing, a written notice of the date,
    29  time and place of the hearing shall be sent to the
    30  representatives of both the employer and employes which are
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     1  party to the dispute. This written notice shall also be sent to
     2  the fiscal authority having budgetary responsibility or charged
     3  with making appropriations for the employer, and a
     4  representative designated by such body shall be heard at the
     5  hearing upon the request of such body or of the employer as part
     6  of the presentation of the employer.
     7     Section 1188-A.  Arbitration Decision.--(a)  Not later than
     8  thirty (30) days after commencing a hearing pursuant to section
     9  1187-A, but in no event later than fifteen (15) days prior to
    10  June 30 or December 31, whichever is the end of the school
    11  entity's fiscal year, the arbitration panel shall:
    12     (1)  conclude the arbitration hearing;
    13     (2)  examine each item of dispute;
    14     (3)  render a determination in writing choosing either the
    15  final best contract offer of the employer, taken as a whole, or
    16  the final best contract offer of the employe organization, taken
    17  as a whole; and
    18     (4)  forward a copy of the written determination to both
    19  parties involved in the dispute.
    20     (b)  The determination of the majority of the arbitrators
    21  shall be final and binding upon the employer, employes and
    22  employe organization involved and constitutes a mandate to the
    23  school entity to take whatever action necessary to carry out the
    24  determination.
    25     (c)  No appeal challenging the determination reached by the
    26  arbitration panel shall be allowed to any court unless the award
    27  resulted from fraud, corruption or wilful misconduct of the
    28  arbitration panel. If a court determines that this has occurred,
    29  it shall declare the award null and void. An appeal of the award
    30  shall be made to the Commonwealth Court.
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     1     Section 1189-A.  Time Frame.--The time periods set forth in
     2  this article are mandatory and shall not be construed to be
     3  directory.
     4                  (j)  Prohibitions and Exception.
     5     Section 1191-A.  Strikes Prohibited.--It shall be unlawful
     6  for an employe organization to call a strike. It shall be
     7  unlawful for a public school teacher to strike or participate in
     8  a strike or similar interruption of government service. Any
     9  strike or interruption of government service prohibited by this
    10  section shall constitute an actionable breach of duty to members
    11  of the public affected thereby, who shall have a right to remedy
    12  and redress in the courts.
    13     Section 1192-A.  Exception.--Any school district of the first
    14  class with an appointed school board and the public employes of
    15  that school district as defined in the act of July 23, 1970
    16  (P.L.563, No.195), known as the "Public Employe Relations Act,"
    17  shall comply with and be subject to the binding arbitration
    18  provisions of the "Public Employe Relations Act" and shall not
    19  be subject to the provisions of sections 1181-A through 1189-A
    20  inclusive or 1191-A.
    21     Section 9.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.






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