HB 1025

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to collective bargaining; amending s.
3	447.03, F.S.; authorizing employees who are members of a
4	labor organization to decertify the labor organization or
5	its certified bargaining agent; requiring labor
6	organizations to provide specified notice; amending s.
7	447.07, F.S.; providing members of a labor organization
8	with access to the organization's accounting information;
9	requiring labor organizations to provide specified notice;
10	creating s. 447.18, F.S.; providing for enforcement;
11	providing for the award of damages, injunctive relief, and
12	civil penalties; providing an effective date.
13
14	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16	Section 1.  Section 447.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to
17	read:
18	447.03  Employees' right of self-organization.-
19	(1)  Employees shall have the right to self-organization,
20	to form, join, or assist labor unions or labor organizations or
21	to refrain from such activity, to bargain collectively through
22	representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in
23	concerted activities, for the purpose of collective bargaining
24	or other mutual aid or protection.
25	(2)  Employees who are members of a labor organization may
26	decertify the labor organization or its certified bargaining
27	agent certified by the Public Employees Relations Commission as
28	representing the employees in a bargaining unit, as provided in
29	s. 447.307, at any time. A labor organization shall annually
30	provide to its members a written notice explaining the rights of
31	a member under state and federal law to decertify, collectively
32	with other members, the labor organization or its certified
33	bargaining agent. The notice must include an explanation of the
34	requirements under state and federal law for filing a petition
35	to revoke certification, as well as a sample petition.
36	Section 2.  Section 447.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
37	read:
38	447.07  Records and accounts required to be kept; access to
39	records.-
40	(1)  A It shall be the duty of any and all labor
41	organization shall organizations in this state to keep accurate
42	books of accounts itemizing all receipts from each whatsoever
43	source and expenditures for each whatsoever purpose, stating
44	such sources and purposes.
45	(2)  A Any member of a such labor organization may, shall
46	be entitled at any all reasonable time, times to inspect the
47	books, records, and accounts of the such labor organization.
48	(3)  A member of a labor organization may receive an annual
49	written account of the records, receipts, expenditures, and
50	accounts specified under this section. A labor organization
51	shall annually provide to its members a written notice detailing
52	the expenditures and receipts of the labor organization for the
53	previous 12 months. The notice must include an accurate
54	explanation of the manner in which the dues of the members were
55	spent on items related, but not limited, to political
56	contributions and administrative salaries.
57	Section 3.  Section 447.18, Florida Statutes, is created to
58	read:
59	447.18  Enforcement.-Notwithstanding s. 447.14, the
60	Attorney General shall enforce the protections of ss. 447.03 and
61	447.07 on behalf of any aggrieved member of a labor
62	organization. If there is reasonable cause to believe that the
63	aggrieved member's rights under ss. 447.03 and 447.07 have been
64	violated by a labor organization, the Attorney General shall
65	commence a civil or administrative action for damages,
66	injunctive relief, and civil penalties or may negotiate a
67	settlement with any labor organization on behalf of any member
68	of a labor organization aggrieved under this section.
69	Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.