HB 4148

Abstract

Creates the Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act. Authorizes legislative employees to bargain collectively through the representatives of their choosing on questions of wages, hours, and other conditions of employment. Specifies that the General Assembly is not required to bargain on specified matters of inherent managerial policy. Establishes the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations. Directs the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations to manage the interests of the General Assembly in collective bargaining with legislative employees. Grants the State Panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters between employee organizations and the General Assembly of the State of Illinois. Contains additional provisions concerning the following topics: the duty to bargain collectively; fair-share agreements; grievance procedures; election and recognition of labor organizations as exclusive representatives; unfair labor practices; mediation; fact-finding; exhaustion of nonjudicial remedies; strikes during session periods; and multiyear collective bargaining agreements. Specifies that the Open Meetings Act does not apply to collective bargaining negotiations and grievance arbitration proceedings under the Act. Sets forth definitions. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012, the State Lawsuit Immunity Act, and the Workplace Violence Prevention Act to make conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Makes changes to the definitions of the terms "excluded employee" and "legislative employee". Provides that a legislative employee employed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, or a legislative employee that is a district office employee is employed by the individual occupying that elected position. Provides that, upon any change in a person occupying such an elected position, the newly elected person has the sole and exclusive authority to act with respect to employment decisions, such as, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, or discharge, and prohibits any provision in a collective bargaining agreement to the contrary. Makes changes concerning the manner in which the Director of the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations is selected. Provides exclusive representatives of legislative employees with access to the premises of the General Assembly (including access to the legislative complex or district offices). Removes provisions concerning the certification of units with fewer than 35 employees. Provides that it is an unfair labor practice to, among other things, promise, threaten, or take any action: (i) to permanently replace an employee who participates in a lawful strike; (ii) to discriminate against an employee who is working or has unconditionally offered to return to work for the employer because the employee supported or participated in such a lawful strike; or (iii) to lock out, suspend, or otherwise withhold employment from an employee in order to influence the position of such employee or the representative of such employee in collective bargaining prior to a lawful strike. Grants the Illinois Labor Relations Board subpoena power and the power to require parties to appear before the Board and produce evidence. Authorizes legislative employees to strike 5 days (rather than 30 days) after written notice is provided to the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations. Deletes provisions concerning fair-share agreements. Makes other technical changes. Provides that the portion of the bill creating the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations takes effect on July 1, 2025.