This morning the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee reported HB 4059, a bill that would prohibit a public employer from entering a bargaining agreement that allows its union employees to conduct union business during time paid for by the public employer.

This bill passed the House in April 2011 and has been languishing in the Senate for over a year. In that time the League has been working on changes with Sen. Colbeck’s office. He is the lead on this issue for the Senate committee.

The legislation now goes to the full Senate for consideration. We expect additional changes will be made on the Senate floor.

Samantha Harkins works for the Michigan Municipal League handling municipal services and energy and technology issues.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at [email protected]