OH SB116

School district boards (outside Civil Service) may terminate transportation staff positions for economy and efficiency reasons if they contract with an independent agent to provide transportation services instead.

Terminated employees must be permitted to fill any vacant positions in the district for which they are qualified, with selection based on collective bargaining agreement procedures or seniority if no agreement exists.

Terminated employees have right of first refusal to return to their former position if the board reinstates it within one year, unless a collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise.

The independent contractor must be required by contract to consider hiring terminated employees for similar positions and to recognize any employee organization that previously represented them in collective bargaining, subject to federal law and employee consent.

If the board fails to comply with these conditions or enforce the contractor's obligations, the terminations become void and the board must reinstate employees with back pay plus any salary increases given to other nonteaching employees during the period of non-compliance.