2009 House Bill 4788 / Public Act 201

Authorize failing school “turnaround schools” [charter schools]

Introduced in the House

April 2, 2009

Introduced by Rep. Bert Johnson (D-5)

To empower a failing school that’s converted into a “turnaround school” (charter school) or placed under another reform-type management as authorized by House Bill 4787 to renegotiate employee contracts containing “counterproductive” work rule and seniority provisions.

Referred to the Committee on Education

June 18, 2009

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 25, 2009

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that expands the power of school employee unions to bargain for non-compensation related school management issues, such as decisions to privatize non-instructional services.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Tom McMillin (R-45)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not expand the power of school employee unions to bargain for non-compensation related school management issues, including decisions to privatize non-instructional service, the starting date of the school year, and the composition of site-based decisionmaking bodies.

The substitute failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 68 to 41 (details)

To expand the power of school employee unions to bargain for non-compensation related school management issues, including decisions to privatize non-instructional service, the starting date of the school year, and the composition of site-based decisionmaking bodies. Under current law these decisions are the exclusive provenance of elected school boards, and unions cannot attempt to influence them in collective bargaining negotiations.

Received in the Senate

July 15, 2009

Referred to the Committee on Education

Dec. 9, 2009

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that essentially replaces the House-passed bill with the provisions of Senate Bill 982.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 24 to 13 (details)

To revise the Public Employees Relations Act to accommodate the powers that Senate Bill 981 would give a “turnaround school chief educational officer” to renegotiate and ultimately set aside certain labor contract provisions (seniority and work rules).

Received in the House

Dec. 9, 2009

Failed in the House 0 to 108 (details)

To concur with a Senate-passed version of the bill. The vote sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.

Dec. 19, 2009

Received

To adopt a compromise version of the bill reported by a House-Senate conference committee. This would revise the Public Employees Relations Act to accommodate the powers that House Bill 4787 would give a state school "reform/redesign officer" to revise certain labor contract provisions (seniority and work rules). The bill would also prohibit privatizing non-instructional services in a public school unless the current union employees are given an opportunity to bid on the contract.

Passed in the House 94 to 4 (details)

Received in the Senate

Dec. 19, 2009

Passed in the Senate 26 to 5 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Dec. 31, 2009