MN HF269

Adds "qualified economic offer" provisions to Minnesota teacher contract law, allowing school boards to restrict teacher strikes and arbitration on compensation issues if they offer biennial contracts with total compensation increases matching the general education formula allowance increase for the first contract year.

Teachers who receive a qualified economic offer may not strike or submit compensation-related issues to interest arbitration, but retain the right to strike on non-compensation issues.

If school board and teachers cannot agree on compensation allocation by January 15 of even-numbered years, existing employee benefits must continue at the same percentage as the prior contract, with remaining compensation increases allocated to teacher salaries based on alternative pay plans, years of service, and promotion/advanced education.

Defines "total compensation" to include 11 cost components: salary schedules, alternative teacher pay, health/life/disability/dental insurance, extracurricular pay, salary schedule advancement costs, Teachers Retirement Association contributions, FICA costs, and other miscellaneous teacher benefit costs.

Effective for contracts ratified beginning July 1, 2011 for section 122A.40 and July 1, 2012 for section 122A.41.