MN SF778

Authorizes family child care providers (licensed and unlicensed) who receive child care assistance subsidies to organize and bargain collectively through exclusive representatives under Minnesota's Public Employment Labor Relations Act.

Creates a statewide bargaining unit for family child care providers and establishes procedures for mail ballot elections requiring 30 percent support; employees of the Commissioner of Management and Budget shall be the nominal employer for bargaining purposes.

Authorizes individual providers of direct support services in home and community-based long-term care programs to organize and collectively bargain regarding compensation, benefits, training, and terms of employment, with participants retaining rights to select, hire, and supervise their providers.

Prohibits strikes by both family child care providers and individual providers, subject them to interest arbitration procedures, and require negotiated agreements be submitted to the legislature for approval.

Appropriates $1,010,000 for fiscal year 2014 and $890,000 for fiscal year 2015 to the Department of Human Services; $59,000 to the Bureau of Mediation Services for fiscal year 2014; and $235,000 annually for fiscal years 2014-2015 to the Commissioner of Management and Budget.