Bill > HB1704

This bill, named the "Public Employee Choice Act," establishes a framework for public employees in New Hampshire to engage in independent bargaining directly with their employers without mandatory union representation. The bill defines independent bargaining as negotiations regarding wages, hours, and employment terms without intervention from an employee organization, and explicitly states that such independent bargaining does not confer greater or lesser rights than collective bargaining. Certain categories of public employees are exempted from these independent bargaining rights, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and state and county corrections officers. The bill prohibits agreements that require employees to be represented by a union, ensures only one exclusive bargaining representative per bargaining unit, and prevents linking wages or conditions of independent employees to unionized employees. The legislation also establishes legal protections for employees, making it unlawful to threaten or coerce employees regarding union membership, with violations classified as a class A misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $5,000, imprisonment up to 6 months, or both. The attorney general is tasked with investigating and prosecuting violations, and the bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, applying to contracts entered into within two years of its effective date.

Labor and Employment

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2371&inflect=2