Senate Counsel, Research
and Fiscal Analysis
Minnesota Senate Bldg.
95 University Avenue W. Suite 3300
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-4791
Alexis C. Stangl
Director
   Senate   
State of Minnesota
 
 
 
 
 
S.F. No. 56 - School District Budget Relief (First Engrossment)
 
Author: Senator Dave Thompson
 
Prepared By: Ann Marie Lewis, Senate Counsel (651/296-5301)
 
Date: January 27, 2011



 

Section 1.  Safe Schools Levy.  Strikes the set aside of the safe schools levy proceeds that must be used for licensed school counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and alcohol and chemical dependency counselors.  The maintenance of effort relating to the safe schools levy set aside is stricken.

Effective Date:  Makes the section effective July 1, 2011.

Section 2. Salary Freeze.

Subdivision 1.  Salary Increases Prohibited.  Paragraph (a) prohibits a school district or charter school from increasing the salary or wages of any employee through June 30, 2013.  The term “increase” includes cost-of-living increases, step and lane changes, lump-sum payments, increases in employer contribution to deferred compensation plans and any other pay grade adjustments.  The term “increase” does not include employed contributions to medical or dental insurance premiums, provided that such employee contributions are not decreased.

Paragraph (b)  An employee who is promoted or transferred to a position with greater responsibility may receive an increase in salary and wages. Additional educational credits or degrees or a lane change are excluded from the meaning of promotion or transfer.  A district or charter school may implement an approved alternative compensation plan.

Subdivision 2.  Contracts in Effect.  Paragraph (a) An increase in salary or wages that is already in effect before the effective date of this section is permitted.  A new contract or collective bargaining agreement that increases salary or wages, decreases student contact days, or an extension of an expired contract or agreement is prohibited from the effective date of this section until June 30, 2013.

Paragraph (b)  A contract or agreement that was agreed to before the effective date of this section but is not scheduled to be effective until after this section’s effective date is void.  If the contract is voided, the exclusive representative may rescind the entire contract or agreement.

Paragraph (c)  When a contract or agreement expires, an employee must remain at the salary or wage in effect at the time the contract expired, except an employee who is promoted or transferred to a position with greater job responsibilities.  Language in a contract that attempts to extend the contract or agreement terms is invalid if it tries to extend the terms of the agreement past the two-year durational limit in Minnesota Statutes, section 179A.20, Subdivision 3.

 Subdivision 3.  Future Contracts.  Prohibits a contract, agreement, or compensation plan entered into after June 30, 2013, from providing a retroactive salary or wage increase if the increase would be prohibited by this section.

 Subdivision 4.  Arbitration and Strikes.  Prohibits school district or charter school employees from striking due to a refusal to grant a salary or wage increase that is refused in order to comply with this section.  A school district, charter school, or exclusive representative is prohibited from requesting interest arbitration in relation to a prohibited increase in salary or wages.  An arbitrator is prohibited from issuing an award that would increase salary or wages in a manner prohibited by this section.

Subdivision 5.  Relation to other law.  States this law to supersede Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 179A.  A school district or charter school’s action under this section is not an unfair labor practice.  

 Effective Date:  Makes the section effective immediately.  Subdivisions 1, 2, 4, and 5 expire on June 30, 2013.

Section 3.  Repealer.  Repeals sections 122A.61 (Reserved Revenue for Staff Development) and 123B.05 (Contract Deadline and Penalty.)

AMBY/syl

 
Check on the status of this bill
 
Back to Senate Counsel and Research Bill Summaries page
 

 
This page is maintained by the Office of Senate Counsel, Research, and Fiscal Analysis for the Minnesota Senate.
 
Last review or update: 01/27/2011
 
If you see any errors on this page, please e-mail us at webmaster@senate.mn