An Act providing for guidelines and procedures governing certain investigations and interrogations of correctional and forensic employees; authorizing certain civil suits by correctional officers; and . . . providing for impact of collective bargaining agreements and for summary suspensions.
Summary
SB113 would establish rules and procedures for investigations and interrogations involving certain correctional and forensic employees. Based on the bill caption, it appears to set standards governing how these employees may be questioned in workplace investigations, and it also authorizes certain civil lawsuits by correctional officers. The measure further addresses how collective bargaining agreements interact with the bill’s requirements and includes provisions related to summary suspensions.
Because the full bill text is not available in the provided materials, the precise statutory changes cannot be itemized, but the bill clearly targets employment and disciplinary procedures within correctional and forensic settings. It likely affects state labor and employment law as applied to public safety and corrections personnel, including the rights of employees during internal investigations, the authority of employers to suspend employees, and the extent to which union contracts may be overridden or preserved.
Impact
SB113 would likely amend Pennsylvania law governing correctional institutions, forensic facilities, and public-sector employment practices by creating procedural protections or requirements for investigations and interrogations of covered employees. It also appears to create or expand a private right of action for correctional officers, which could expose employers or agencies to civil litigation and alter how disciplinary matters are handled. The bill’s reference to collective bargaining agreements suggests it may define when statutory rules supersede contract terms, affecting unions, correctional agencies, and forensic employers.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows the Senate Labor and Industry Committee reported the bill unanimously, 11-0, indicating broad initial support at the committee level. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no direct record of debate or objections in the supplied materials. The unanimous committee vote suggests the bill was viewed favorably by members at that stage, though referral to Appropriations indicates further fiscal or policy review was still required.
Contention
The main likely points of contention are the bill’s impact on management authority, employee due-process protections, and labor relations. Correctional agencies and employers may be concerned about limits on interrogation practices, the creation of civil liability, and constraints on summary suspensions. Labor organizations and correctional officers would likely support stronger procedural safeguards and enforceable rights, while disagreement may also arise over how the bill interacts with existing collective bargaining agreements and whether it shifts too much authority away from agency discipline procedures.
Providing for guidelines and procedures governing certain investigations and interrogations of correctional and forensic employees; authorizing certain civil suits by correctional officers; and providing for impact of collective bargaining agreements and for summary suspensions.
In employee rights, providing for reporting of dues and for annual report; in Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, providing for report availability; and, in collective bargaining agreement, providing for forwarding agreement to board.
Imposing requirements when lands containing certain State correctional institutions are offered for sale; and further providing for duties of the Department of Corrections.
In definitions, further providing for the definition of "maintenance of membership"; in employee rights, further providing for lawful activities and providing for rights and privileges and for civil actions; and, in scope of bargaining, further providing for proper subjects of bargaining.
Providing for guidelines and procedures governing certain investigations and interrogations of correctional and forensic employees; authorizing certain civil suits by correctional officers; and providing for impact of collective bargaining agreements and for summary suspensions.