SB 18-175

Senate Bill 18-175 prohibits public employers from compensating employees or paying for expenses related to union activities. This means that public employers can no longer include in their contracts any provisions that pay employees or third parties for time spent on union-related work or cover the costs of such activities. The bill applies to all current and future employment agreements, but it does not consider home rule municipalities as public employers under this law. If a violation occurs, taxpayers have the right to take legal action against the violating employer, and enforcement is handled by the state's attorney general. Since the status is "signed," the bill has been approved and signed into law, meaning these restrictions are now in effect for public employees in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill prohibits a public employer from entering into an employment bargain with a public employee or union to compensate a public employee or a third party for union activities or to pay the expenses of an employee or third party's participation in union activities. The prohibition applies to any employment bargain that is currently in existence or that is entered into in the future and that includes compensation to public employees or third parties for union activities or that includes payment of expenses for union activities. The bill specifies that a home rule municipality is not a public employer for purposes of the bill. The bill requires the attorney general to enforce the prohibition of an employment bargain that compensates a public employee for union activities or pays the costs of participation in union activities. Any taxpayer of the jurisdiction in which a violation of the prohibition occurs has standing in any court to bring a special action against a public employer that violates the prohibition. The bill specifies that the regulation of employment bargains is a matter of statewide concern and is not subject to further inconsistent regulation by any public employer. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

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