HF1375

The bill, H.F. No. 1375, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives by Representative Duran, proposes to repeal Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 626.892, which governs the peace officer grievance arbitration selection procedure.

Key Provisions of the Repealed Statute (626.892):

1. Definitions: Establishes key terms such as "commissioner," "employer," "grievance," "grievance arbitration," and "peace officer."
2. Applicability: The arbitration selection process applies to all peace officer grievance arbitrations related to written disciplinary actions, discharge, or termination since September 1, 2020.
3. Arbitrator Roster & Appointment: A roster of six arbitrators was to be appointed by the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS), consulting community and law enforcement stakeholders.
4. Term Limits & Reappointment: Arbitrator terms were staggered across three-year appointments.
5. Training Requirements: Arbitrators were required to complete training on cultural competency, racism, implicit bias, and peace officers' daily experiences.
6. Arbitrator Selection: The BMS commissioner assigned arbitrators alphabetically, and parties were not allowed to negotiate over arbitrator selection.
7. Superseding Other Laws: This process overrode other dispute resolution laws governing grievance arbitration selection.

Effect of the Bill:

• By repealing section 626.892, the bill removes the specialized arbitration selection procedure for peace officer grievances.
• The selection of arbitrators would likely revert to existing general labor arbitration processes under Minnesota’s Public Employee Labor Relations Act (PELRA).
• Peace officers' grievance arbitration procedures might become negotiable under collective bargaining agreements.

In summary, H.F. No. 1375 seeks to abolish the current system for selecting arbitrators in police discipline cases, potentially returning such disputes to standard public employee arbitration methods.