School access for professional organizations approved

Lawmakers passed a bill April 9 aimed at ensuring that Nebraska school districts provide professional employees’ organizations equal access to the district’s employees.

LB429, introduced by Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman, requires school boards to provide equal access to certified employees’ physical or electronic mailboxes, meetings and events when such access is granted to any qualified professional employees’ organization.

A professional employees’ organization is defined as any organization that exists for the purpose of providing liability protection or collective bargaining on behalf of certified employees.

The bill also requires equal treatment with respect to signage and informational materials displayed on school property and prohibits school boards from naming or referring to any day or break in the school calendar using the name of a professional employees’ organization.

The bill does not apply to, modify or supersede the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act or any matters relating to collective bargaining.

LB429 passed on a 47-2 vote.