FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Contact: Senator Bob Odell

(603) 271-6733

SENATOR BOB ODELL INTRODUCES REPEAL OF EVERGREEN MANDATE

CONCORD – With the launch of the 2011 session today, Senator Bob Odell introduced a bill to eliminate the automatic extension of public employee contracts known as the Evergreen clause.

“This is an issue of local control.  The legislature should not be mandating the terms of these contracts and certainly should not be forcing the costs of ongoing pay and benefit increases upon the counties, municipalities and school districts,” Odell (R-Lempster) said.

Current state law, as enacted in 2008, mandates the continuation of existing contract terms, including certain pay increases, between the expiration of an existing contract and the adoption of a new agreement.

Under Senate Bill 1, collective bargaining agreements could still include Evergreen clauses if agreed to during contract negotiations.

“This is common sense legislation to repeal a mandate that has likely held up public employee contract negotiations across the state,” said Senate President Peter Bragdon (R-Milford). 

“This is the first of many taxpayer-friendly bills the Senate will pursue designed to reduce red tape, return control to cities and towns and allow local leaders the autonomy they need to balance their budgets,” he added.

Senate Bill 1 awaits a hearing before the Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. It was one of several bills “introduced” at the Senate’s Convening Day today, a process that allows new bills to begin the legislative process.

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