SB 919 (Salim) / HB 2619 (Helmer), as substituted, would require that the governing body or transportation district commission of any county that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services must:
- Require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee;
- Provide transportation services through such company’s own employees; and
- If such transportation district commission or county subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, the governing body must adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits.
KEY POINTS
- The bills would mandate collective bargaining within select counties, interfere with the ability for a county to make employment and services delivery decisions, and may have costly unintended consequences (as shown by this fiscal impact statement).
- The bills include language that could be potentially harmful to counties such as how “transportation services” are constituted. Generally, this means those who operate transit systems but could very likely include mechanics of such systems.
- The bills would almost certainly raise the operating costs of transportation delivery systems at a time when the budgets for these services are very tight as they are.
SB 919 and HB 2619 passed the House by a vote 50-47 and the Senate by a vote if 21-19. VACo opposes SB 919 and HB 2619.
VACo Contact: James Hutzler