SEA 409 Summary

• Delays the start of formal collective bargaining between school corporations and exclusive representatives from August 1 to September 15 in each year of the state budget biennium, with informal negotiations permitted before that date.

• Requires the department of education to provide parties with an estimate of available general fund revenue for bargaining before September 15 of the first budget year, and a certification within 30 days after the fall count of average daily membership (ADM).

• Allows parties to use the school corporation's own revenue estimate if the department fails to provide certification within 30 days after the fall count of ADM, but requires use of the certified amount if received before an impasse is declared.

• Changes the deadline for completing board review of ratified collective bargaining agreements from March 30 to May 31, and extends the public factfinding hearing window from October 1-December 31 to November 15-February 15.

• Permits representation petitions to be filed after January 14 and before February 16 of the year a collective bargaining agreement expires, or during a board-determined 30-day window in that expiration year.