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S 606 108th Congress Senate

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2003

Official title: A bill to provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions.

Introduced: March 12, 2003 See on congress.gov
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Collective bargainingCrime and Law EnforcementEmergency ManagementEmergency medicineEmployee rightsEmployee-management relations in governmentFederal Labor Relations AuthorityFederal preemptionFire fightersGovernment employee unionsHealthIndustrial arbitrationInjunctionsJudicial reviewJurisdictionLabor and EmploymentLabor contractsLawLaw enforcement officersLocal employeesLocal lawsLockoutsMediationMedical personnelParamedical personnelPolicePublic sector strikesState courtsState employeesState lawsState-local relationsUnfair labor practices
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 24, 2003
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 411.
Nov 24, 2003
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Gregg without amendment. Without written report.
Oct 2, 2003
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Mar 12, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3624-3625)
Mar 12, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3623-3624)
Mar 12, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action November 24, 2003

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 411.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2003 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments.

Directs the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to determine whether State law provides specified rights and responsibilities for public safety officers, including: (1) granting public safety employees the right to form and join a labor organization which excludes management and supervisory employees, and which is, or seeks to be, recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for such employees; and (2) requiring public safety employers to recognize and agree to bargain with the employees' labor organization.

Requires the FLRA to issue regulations establishing collective bargaining procedures for public safety employers and employees in States that do not substantially provide for such public safety employee rights and responsibilities. Directs the FLRA, in such cases, to: (1) determine the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation; (2) supervise or conduct elections to determine whether a labor organization has been selected as an exclusive representative by a majority of the employees in an appropriate unit; (3) resolve issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith; (4) conduct hearings and resolve complaints of unfair labor practices; and (5) resolve exceptions to arbitrator's awards. Grants a public safety employer, employee, or labor organization the right to seek enforcement of such FLRA regulations and authority through appropriate State courts.

Prohibits public safety employers, employees, and labor organizations from engaging in lockouts or strikes, or sickouts, work slowdowns, or other actions designed to compel agreement to a proposed contract which will measurably disrupt the delivery of emergency services.

Provides that existing collective bargaining units and agreements shall not be invalidated by this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 606: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-606/
MLA
"S. 606: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-606/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 606, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-606/.
Markdown link
[S. 606: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-606/)
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