3505.4.
(a) The employee organization may request that the parties’ differences be submitted to a factfinding panel not sooner than 30 days, but not more than 45 days, following the appointment or selection of a mediator pursuant to the parties’ agreement to mediate or a mediation process required by a public agency’s local rules. If the dispute was not submitted to mediation, an employee organization may request, in writing, that the public agency submit the parties’ differences to a factfinding panel not later than 60 30 days following the date that either party provided the other with a
written notice of a declaration of impasse. Within five days after receipt of the written request, each party shall select a person to serve as its member of the factfinding panel. The Public Employment Relations Board shall, within five days after the selection of panel members by the parties, select a chairperson of the factfinding panel.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if either party disputes that a genuine impasse has been reached, the issue as to whether an impasse exists may be submitted to the Public Employment Relations Board for resolution. If the board determines that an impasse existed as of the date of written notice of a declaration of impasse and that the impasse has persisted through the date of the employee organization’s request for a factfinding panel, it shall, within five working days of the receipt of a
request, notify the parties of its determination.
(c) Within five days after receipt of the written request pursuant to subdivision (a) or five days after receipt of the board’s determination that a genuine impasse has been reached and persists pursuant to subdivision (b), each party shall select a person to serve as its member of the factfinding panel. The board shall, within five days after the selection of panel members by the parties, select a chairperson of the factfinding panel.
(d) Within five days after the board selects a chairperson of the factfinding panel, the parties may mutually agree upon a person to serve as chairperson in lieu of the person selected by the board.
(e) The panel shall, within 10 days
after its appointment, meet with the parties or their representatives, either jointly or separately, and may make inquiries and investigations, hold hearings, and take any other steps it deems appropriate. For the purpose of the hearings, investigations, and inquiries, the panel shall have the power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence. Any state agency, as defined in Section 11000, the California State University, or any political subdivision of the state, including any board of education, shall furnish the panel, upon its request, with all records, papers, and information in its possession relating to any matter under investigation by or in issue before the panel.
(f) In arriving at their findings and recommendations, the factfinders shall consider, weigh, and be guided by all the
following criteria:
(1) State and federal laws that are applicable to the employer.
(2) Local rules, regulations, or ordinances.
(3) Stipulations of the parties.
(4) The interests and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the public agency.
(5) Comparison of the wages, hours, and conditions of employment of the employees involved in the factfinding proceeding with the wages, hours, and conditions of employment of other employees performing similar services in comparable public agencies.
(6) The consumer price index for
goods and services, commonly known as the cost of living.
(7) The overall compensation presently received by the employees, including direct wage compensation, vacations, holidays, and other excused time, insurance and pensions, medical and hospitalization benefits, the continuity and stability of employment, and all other benefits received.
(8) Any other facts, not confined to those specified in paragraphs (1) to (7), inclusive, that are normally or traditionally taken into consideration in making the findings and recommendations.
(g) The procedural right of an employee organization to request a factfinding panel cannot be waived.
(h) For purposes of
this section, “impasse” means that the parties to a dispute over a matter within the scope of representation have reached a point in meeting and negotiating at which their difference in position is so substantial or prolonged that future meetings would be futile.
(i) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, the employee relations commissions established by, and in effect for, the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles pursuant to Section 3507 shall have the authority to maintain and amend existing rules and regulations providing for impasse resolution procedures and to issue determinations and orders as the employee relations commissions deem necessary, consistent with and pursuant to the policies of this chapter.