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An Act To Provide for a Statewide Contract for School Teachers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 513  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 513
STATEWIDE TEACHER CONTRACT
§ 14001. Statewide teacher contract
Beginning January 1, 2021, a public employer acting on behalf of a school administrative unit is represented in collective bargaining by the Governor or the Governor's designee representing the executive branch pursuant to Title 26, section 979-A, subsection 5. For purposes of this section, "public employer" has the same meaning as in Title 26, section 962, subsection 7.
Sec. 2. Plan to implement statewide collective bargaining for teachers. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, referred to in this section as "the department," shall develop a plan to implement statewide collective bargaining for public school teachers beginning January 1, 2021.
1. Policy goals. The plan developed by the department must be designed to:
A. Permit school administrative units to maintain local control and direction of teacher employment;
B. Include for all public school teachers a uniform compensation system that is based upon performance results that are competitive and fair throughout the State; and
C. Maximize opportunities for certain economies of scale through the statewide negotiation of public school teachers' benefits, including, but not limited to, health insurance.
2. Participation; input. In the development of the plan, the department shall invite the participation of the Commissioner of Education, the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, the Maine State Employees Association, the Maine Education Association and the Maine School Superintendents Association.
3. Plan details. At a minimum, the plan developed by the department must:
A. Identify a single entity to bargain on behalf of the teachers and a single entity to bargain on behalf of the State;
B. Identify those issues that will be bargained for on a statewide level and those issues, if any, that will be determined by local school boards;
C. Identify the components of the salary schedule;
D. Determine a benefits provider or providers; and
E. Outline the procedure for resolution of contract disputes.
4. Report; submission of proposed implementing legislation. No later than December 6, 2017, the department shall submit a report that includes its plan and recommendations, including proposed implementing legislation, for introduction to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides for statewide collective bargaining for teachers beginning January 1, 2021. The bill directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to develop a plan to implement statewide collective bargaining for teachers and requires that the plan be designed to permit school administrative units to maintain local control and direction of teacher employment; to include for all public school teachers a uniform compensation system that is based upon performance results that are competitive and fair throughout the State; and to maximize opportunities for certain economies of scale through the statewide negotiation of teachers' benefits, including, but not limited to, health insurance. The department is directed to submit its plan, together with proposed implementing legislation, for introduction to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.