A bill to require community colleges to allow collective bargaining among their professors and staff has advanced in the General Assembly, passing the House of Delegates.

The House passed the legislation 84-52 with amendments added by the House Appropriations Committee, and after rejecting many amendments introduced by Delegates on the floor of the House. For a full transcript of actions, see the bill history.

HB 27 – Education – Community Colleges – Collective Bargaining was amended to include some clarifying language for community colleges that already have collective bargaining. For more information, read the text of the bill.

MACo opposed the legislation, stating that the legislation limits local decision-making and could pressure county budgets that necessarily provide one third of the funding for community colleges throughout Maryland.

MACo’s written testimony states:

The combination of a State-imposed system and costs, no county participation in bargaining, and no additional State funding results in a potentially substantial unfunded mandate on county governments.

The bill now advances to the Senate Finance Committee.