SB-1072 Summary

• Expands the definition of "public police and fire departments" to include any authority, district, board, or entity created by municipal governing bodies, and adds emergency medical service personnel and emergency telephone operators to covered employees.

• Requires the employment relations commission to establish qualifications and training requirements for arbitration panel chairs, with a waiver available for individuals who previously served as commission-appointed chairs before the bill's effective date.

• Establishes a 30-day mediation period (extendable by agreement) before binding arbitration can be initiated, followed by a 14-day deadline for the mediator to submit disputed issues and proposed contract language to the employment relations commission.

• Requires arbitration hearings to begin within 15 days and conclude within 30 days (extendable to 180 days by party agreement), with majority panel decisions on economic issues limited to selecting one party's last settlement offer based on specified statutory factors.

• Clarifies that arbitration awards are final and binding, enforceable in circuit court, and that the commencement of a new municipal fiscal year does not render disputes moot or affect the panel's authority.