Connecticut 2023 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 912 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATUS OF PROBATE COURT SYSTEM EMPLOYEES.

Last action — REF. BY SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

194 added · 107 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Senate Bill 912 clarifies the employment status of Probate Court employees. Previously, they were generally not considered state employees but would now be recognized as state employees for certain purposes, specifically regarding their right to bargain collectively starting October 1, 2023. This change is significant because it enhances the rights and benefits of these employees, making it easier for them to negotiate better working conditions and pay.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
912 January Session, 2023 LCO No.
14 January Session, 2023 Senate Bill No.
3252 Referred to Committee on LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES Introduced by:
912 Senate, March 6, 2023 The Committee on Labor and Public Employees reported through SEN.
(LAB) AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATUS OF PROBATE COURT SYSTEM EMPLOYEES.
KUSHNER of the 24th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATUS OF PROBATE COURT SYSTEM EMPLOYEES.
Subsection (g) of section 45a-8a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023):
Subsection (g) of section 45a-8a of the general statutes is repealed andthefollowing issubstituted inlieuthereof(EffectiveOctober 1, 2023):
(g) Each administrative judge for a Regional Children's Probate Court may, if authorized by the Probate Court Budget Committee under section 45a-85, employ such persons as may be required for the efficient operation of the Regional Children's Probate Court.
(g)Eachadministrativejudge foraRegionalChildren'sProbateCourt may, if authorized by the Probate Court Budget Committee under section 45a-85, employ such persons as may be required for the efficient operation of the Regional Children's Probate Court.
LCO 3252 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00912-R01 of 4 SB.docx Raised Bill No.
SB912 / File No.
912 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, Probate Court employees shall not be deemed state employees and shall serve at the pleasure of the judge of the court of probate in which they are employed.
14 1 SB912 File No.
14 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, Probate Court employees shall not be deemed state employees and shall serve at the pleasureofthejudgeofthecourtofprobateinwhichtheyareemployed.
Subsection (a) of section 5-270 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023):
Subsection (a) of section 5-270 of the general statutes is repealed andthefollowing issubstituted inlieuthereof(EffectiveOctober 1, 2023):
(a) "Employer" means the state of Connecticut, its executive and judicial branches, including, without limitation, any board, department, commission, institution, or agency of such branches or any appropriate unit thereof and any board of trustees of a state- owned or supported college or university and branches thereof, public and quasi-public state corporation, or authority established by state law, the Probate Courts or any person or persons designated by the employer to act in its interest in dealing with employees, but shall not include the State Board of Labor Relations or the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration.
(a) "Employer" means the state of Connecticut, its executive and judicial branches, including, without limitation, any board, department, commission, institution, or agency of such branches or any appropriate unit thereof and any board of trustees of a state-owned or supported college or university and branches thereof, public and quasi-public state corporation, or authority established by state law, the Probate Courts or any person or persons designated by the employer to act in its interest indealingwithemployees,butshallnotincludetheStateBoardofLabor Relations or the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration.
Subsection (a) of section 5-278 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023):
Subsection (a) of section 5-278 of the general statutes is repealed andthefollowing issubstituted inlieuthereof(EffectiveOctober 1, 2023):
(a) When an employee organization has been designated, in accordance with the provisions of sections 5-270 to 5-280, inclusive, as amended by this act, as the exclusive representative of employees in an appropriate unit, the employer shall be represented in collective LCO 3252 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00912-2 of 4 R01-SB.docx } Raised Bill No.
(a) When an employee organization has been designated, in accordance with the provisions of sections 5-270 to 5-280, inclusive, as amended by this act, as the exclusive representative of employees in an appropriate unit, the employer shall be represented in collective bargaining with such employee organization in the following manner:
912 bargaining with such employee organization in the following manner:
(1) In the case of an executive branch employer, including the Division of Criminal Justice, by the chief executive officer whether elected or SB912 / File No.
(1) In the case of an executive branch employer, including the Division of Criminal Justice, by the chief executive officer whether elected or appointed, or [his] the chief executive officer's designated representative;
14 2 SB912 File No.
14 appointed, or [his] the chief executive officer's designated representative;
Subsection (b) of section 5-275 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023):
Subsection (b) of section 5-275 of the general statutes is repealed andthefollowing issubstituted inlieuthereof(EffectiveOctober 1, 2023):
(4) permit the faculties of (A) The University of Connecticut, (B) the Connecticut State University System, and (C) the LCO 3252 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00912-3 of 4 R01-SB.docx } Raised Bill No.
(4) permit the faculties of (A) The University of Connecticut, (B) the Connecticut State University System, and (C) the Technical Education and Career System to each comprise a separate unit, which in each case shall have the right to bargain collectively with their respective boards of trustees or their designated representatives;
912 Technical Education and Career System to each comprise a separate unit, which in each case shall have the right to bargain collectively with their respective boards of trustees or their designated representatives;
[and] (5) permit the community college faculty and the technical college faculty as they SB912 / File No.
[and] (5) permit the community college faculty and the technical college faculty as they existed prior to July 1, 1992, to continue to comprise separate units, which in each case shall have the right to bargain collectively with its board of trustees or its designated representative, [.
14 3 SB912 File No.
14 existed prior to July 1, 1992, to continue to comprise separate units, which in each case shall have the right to bargain collectively with its board of trustees or its designated representative, [.
and (6) permit employees of the Probate Court to form not more than two separate bargaining units, one nonprofessional and one professional.
and (6) permit employees of the Probate Court to form not more than two separate bargainingunits,onenonprofessionalandoneprofessional.Thissection shall not be deemed to prohibit multiunit bargaining.
This section shall not be deemed to prohibit multiunit bargaining.
October 1, 2023 Section 1 45a-8a(g) Sec.
Section 1 October 1, 2023 45a-8a(g) Sec.
5 October 1, 2023 5-275(b) LAB Joint Favorable LCO 3252 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00912- 4 of 4 R01-SB.docx }
5 October 1, 2023 5-275(b) LAB Joint Favorable SB912 / File No.
14 4 SB912 File No.
14 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $ Judicial Dept.
GF - Potential See Below See Below Cost Probate Court PCAF - Potential See Below See Below Cost Note:
GF=General Fund;
PCAF=Probate Court Administration Fund Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill allows probate court employees to be deemed state employees for the purpose of collective bargaining and results in potential costs to the Probate Court Administration Fund (PCAF) and to the General Fund.
The bill limits the number of bargaining units to two, but it does not require the probate court employees to unionize.
If the probate court employees do choose to unionize, there is an estimated one-time cost of $8,200-$16,400 for the PCA to retain outside legal counsel.
Additionally, there may be a cost of $10,000- $20,000 in equipment, office furniture, and fixtures for new human resources employees.
Potential recurring costs for two to four additional staff salary and fringe benefits is estimated to be between $335,000 and $600,000.
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The PCA may also need to retain outside counsel on an annual basis and the cost associated with that would be between $4,000 and $8,500 depending upon the number of unions and the length of AManagerofLaborRelations, twoPersonnelOfficers, andaPersonnelAssistant may be needed in the case of four employees.
In the case of two staff, there would likely be a Manager of Labor Relations and one Personnel Officer.
In the case of three staff, there may be one of each position type.
SB912 / File No.
14 5 SB912 File No.
14 negotiations.
If additional office space is required due to increased number of staff, the bill may result in a cost for leasing space.
This cost is dependent on state owned office space that may be available, other space that may need to be leased, or the PCA's flexibility in allowing some positions to work remotely.
It is estimated that lease related costs will be approximately$12,000-$27,000annually depending uponthenumber of new staff who would require office space.
The Probate Court Administration Fund receives revenue through probate court fees as well as a General Fund subsidy through an appropriated account in the Judicial Department.
These additional costs may result in an increase to the General Fund subsidy or an increase to probate court fees.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.
SB912 / File No.
14 6 SB912 File No.
14 OLR Bill Analysis SB 912 AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATUS OF PROBATE COURT SYSTEM EMPLOYEES.
SUMMARY This bill provides collective bargaining (i.e., unionizing) rights to probate court employees, including the regional children’s probate court employees.
Current law does not provide them with collective bargaining rights or obligate the probate court administrator to bargain with them.
Beginning October 1, 2023, the bill deems these employees state employees only for collective bargaining purposes under the state employee collective bargaining law.
Under current law, probate court employees are deemed not to be state employees for any purpose, and they serve at the pleasure of the probate court judges.
The bill specifies that probate court employees (1) cannot form more thantwo separatebargaining units,oneeachfor professionalemployees and nonprofessional employees, and (2) will remain at-will employees after the bill’s effective date if they choose not to unionize.
Under the bill, starting October 1, 2023, the probate court is considered an employer for collective bargaining purposes thus requiring the probate court administrator, or her designee, to negotiate with employees on the court’s behalf.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
The state employee collective bargaining law establishes provisions for (1) selecting an exclusive bargaining agent for collective bargaining, (2) holding an election on whether to form a union, (3) mandatory SB912 / File No.
14 7 SB912 File No.
14 negotiations, (4) mandatory binding arbitration when a negotiation impasse is declared, and (5) other steps and mechanisms related to bargaining and arbitration (CGS §§ 5-270 to -280).
EFFECTIVE DATE:
October 1, 2023 COMMITTEE ACTION Labor and Public Employees Committee Joint Favorable Yea 7 Nay 4 (02/16/2023) SB912 / File No.
14 8
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Action History

  1. REF. BY SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations

  2. FILE NO. 14

  3. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 46

  4. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  5. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  6. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/06/23

  7. FILED WITH LCO

  8. Joint Favorable

  9. PUBLIC HEARING 0131

  10. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Labor and Public Employees

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 185 not signed on

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (185)

185 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 912?
SB 912 is sponsored by Julie Kushner (Democratic) and Morrin Bello, Amy.
What is the current status of SB 912?
This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 912?
Track SB 912 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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