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Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act

USA119th CongressS-636| Senate 
| Updated: 2/19/2025
John W. Hickenlooper

John W. Hickenlooper

Democratic Senator

Colorado

Cosponsors (1)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act seeks to establish minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states and their political subdivisions. Congress declares that strong labor-management relationships are essential for public safety, national security, and effective response to emergencies, recognizing the vital role of first responders. The bill aims to encourage conciliation, mediation, and arbitration to foster agreements on pay, hours, and working conditions, while respecting existing state laws that already provide comparable or greater rights. The Act defines a public safety officer as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services employee, excluding supervisory, management, or confidential employees. A public safety employer is any state or political subdivision employing such officers. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is tasked with determining whether each state substantially provides for a set of core rights and responsibilities. These core rights include the ability for public safety officers to form and join a labor organization, and for employers to recognize and bargain with such organizations. Officers must have the right to bargain over hours, wages, and terms and conditions of employment , and to utilize binding interest arbitration to resolve bargaining impasses. Furthermore, the bill ensures enforcement of these rights and any resulting contracts through state administrative agencies or courts. If the FLRA determines that a state does not substantially provide these rights, that state will become subject to federal regulations and procedures established by the FLRA. The FLRA's role would then include determining appropriate bargaining units, supervising elections, resolving unfair labor practice complaints, and enforcing compliance. However, states are not deemed non-compliant if their laws exclude very small jurisdictions or do not require bargaining over pensions, retirement, or health benefits. The bill explicitly prohibits public safety employers, officers, or labor organizations from engaging in lockouts, strikes, or any other organized job action that would measurably disrupt emergency services. Importantly, the Act does not preempt state laws that provide comparable or greater collective bargaining rights, nor does it invalidate existing collective bargaining agreements. It also clarifies that states are not required to rescind local ordinances that offer greater rights than those outlined in the Act.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1394
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 19, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Feb 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1505
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1394
    Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act


  • February 19, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 19, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • February 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1505
    Introduced in House

Government Operations and Politics

Civil actions and liabilityEmployment discrimination and employee rightsFederal appellate courtsFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementJudicial review and appealsLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLaw enforcement officersState and local government operations

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act

USA119th CongressS-636| Senate 
| Updated: 2/19/2025
The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act seeks to establish minimum standards for collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states and their political subdivisions. Congress declares that strong labor-management relationships are essential for public safety, national security, and effective response to emergencies, recognizing the vital role of first responders. The bill aims to encourage conciliation, mediation, and arbitration to foster agreements on pay, hours, and working conditions, while respecting existing state laws that already provide comparable or greater rights. The Act defines a public safety officer as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services employee, excluding supervisory, management, or confidential employees. A public safety employer is any state or political subdivision employing such officers. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is tasked with determining whether each state substantially provides for a set of core rights and responsibilities. These core rights include the ability for public safety officers to form and join a labor organization, and for employers to recognize and bargain with such organizations. Officers must have the right to bargain over hours, wages, and terms and conditions of employment , and to utilize binding interest arbitration to resolve bargaining impasses. Furthermore, the bill ensures enforcement of these rights and any resulting contracts through state administrative agencies or courts. If the FLRA determines that a state does not substantially provide these rights, that state will become subject to federal regulations and procedures established by the FLRA. The FLRA's role would then include determining appropriate bargaining units, supervising elections, resolving unfair labor practice complaints, and enforcing compliance. However, states are not deemed non-compliant if their laws exclude very small jurisdictions or do not require bargaining over pensions, retirement, or health benefits. The bill explicitly prohibits public safety employers, officers, or labor organizations from engaging in lockouts, strikes, or any other organized job action that would measurably disrupt emergency services. Importantly, the Act does not preempt state laws that provide comparable or greater collective bargaining rights, nor does it invalidate existing collective bargaining agreements. It also clarifies that states are not required to rescind local ordinances that offer greater rights than those outlined in the Act.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1394
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 19, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Feb 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-1505
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1394
    Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act


  • February 19, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 19, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • February 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-1505
    Introduced in House
John W. Hickenlooper

John W. Hickenlooper

Democratic Senator

Colorado

Cosponsors (1)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Government Operations and Politics

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityEmployment discrimination and employee rightsFederal appellate courtsFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementJudicial review and appealsLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLaw enforcement officersState and local government operations