SB 1451 Summary

• Establishes the Public Employee Labor Relations Act (Article 7, Title 23, Chapter 8) to govern collective bargaining between public employers and public employees in Arizona.

• Creates a Public Employee Labor Relations Board consisting of three members appointed by the governor (one representing public employees, one representing public employers, one jointly recommended) with authority to certify exclusive representatives and resolve labor disputes.

• Authorizes public employees to form labor organizations, engage in collective bargaining on wages and working conditions, and use grievance procedures; prohibits strikes, lockouts, and picketing of officials' homes.

• Establishes procedures for representation elections requiring 30% employee petition signatures, decertification elections, and impasse resolution through mediation and arbitration panels.

• Declares the board and the statute itself terminate on July 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025, respectively.