§ 93070. Election Procedures.

(a) All elections shall be conducted by SMCS and shall be by secret ballot. Whenever two or more labor organizations are included as choices in an election, any participant, upon its prompt request to and approval thereof by the Supervisor, whose decision shall be final, may have its name removed from the ballot. Provided, however, that in a proceeding involving a district-filed petition or a petition for decertification, the labor organization certified, currently recognized or found to be seeking recognition may not have its name removed from the ballot without timely notice in writing to all parties and to SMCS disclaiming any representation interest among the employees in the unit.

Any party may be represented by observers of its own selection, subject to such limitations as SMCS may prescribe. Any party and any agent or representative of SMCS may challenge for good cause the eligibility of any person to vote in the election. Each challenged ballot shall be impounded. Upon the conclusion of the election SMCS shall issue a tally of the ballots to each party. Within five days thereafter any party may file with SMCS two copies of objections to the conduct of the election or conduct affecting the results of the election, which shall contain a short statement of the reasons for the objections. The objecting party shall immediately serve a copy of such objections upon each other party and file with SMCS proof of service and shall, upon request, promptly furnish evidence to support the objections.

(b) If (1) no objections are filed within the time specified in subsection (a) above, and (2) any challenged ballots are insufficient in number to affect the results of the election, and (3) no runoff election is to be held pursuant to Section 93075 below, SMCS shall forthwith issue to the parties a certification of the results of the election, including certification of representatives where appropriate; and the case will be closed.

(c) If objections are filed to the conduct of the election or conduct affecting the results of the election, or if the challenged ballots are sufficient in number to affect the results of the election, the Supervisor shall investigate such objections or challenges, or both, and shall prepare and serve upon the parties a report on such objections or challenged ballots, or both. Within 10 days from the date of issuance of the report on such objections or challenged ballots, or within such additional period as the Supervisor may allow upon written application for extension made within such 10-day period, any party may file with the Supervisor an original of exceptions to such report. Concurrently upon the filing of such exceptions, the filing party shall serve a copy upon each of the other parties, and proof thereof shall be promptly filed with the Supervisor. If no exceptions are filed to such report within the time permitted, the Supervisor may issue a written decision in conformity with such report, as to the validity of such objections or challenges or may make other disposition of the case based on an administrative investigation or in the exercise of reasonable discretion, and SMCS shall thereupon promptly act to close the case in accordance with such decision.

(d) If exceptions are filed, either to the report on challenged ballots or objections, or both if it is a consolidated report, the Supervisor shall appoint a hearing officer to examine the exceptions and make recommendations. If it appears to the hearing officer that such exceptions do not raise substantial and material factual issues with respect to the conduct of the election or conduct affecting the results of the elections, the hearing officer may make written recommendations to the Supervisor forthwith, and shall concurrently serve copies of said recommendations upon the parties. Within 10 days from the date of issuance of the aforesaid recommendations, or within such additional period as the Supervisor may allow upon written application for extension made within the 10-day period, any party may file with the Board itself an original and five copies of exceptions to the hearing officer's recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of Section 93065. Concurrently upon the filing of such exceptions, the filing party shall serve a copy upon each of the other parties and proof thereof shall be promptly filed with the Board.

(e) If it appears to the hearing officer that any exceptions filed to the report of the Supervisor on challenged ballots or objections raise substantial and material factual issues, the hearing officer shall cause to be served upon the parties a notice of hearing on said exceptions, which notice shall be given at least 10 days in advance of the date specified for the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the hearing officer in accordance with the provisions of Sections 93030, 93040, 93045, and 93050 insofar as applicable. Upon the close of the hearing, the hearing officer shall prepare and deliver to the Supervisor a proposed decision resolving questions of credibility and containing findings of fact and recommendations as to the disposition of the challenges or objections, or both if it be a consolidated matter. Said decision, - together with (1) the notice of hearing, (2) motions, (3) rulings, (4) orders, (5) transcript of the hearing, (6) stipulations, (7) exceptions, (8) documentary evidence and briefs, (9) objections to the conduct of the election or conduct affecting the results of the election, (10) the report of Supervisor on such objections, (11) the report of Supervisor on challenged ballots, (12) exceptions to the report of the Supervisor on objections or to the report on challenged ballots, and (13) the record previously made, - shall constitute the record in the case. A copy of the hearing officer's proposed decision shall immediately be served upon each of the parties, where-upon any of the parties may file exceptions to said report within the same time limitations and requirements as to service, and proof thereof, as are provided for in the case of exceptions filed under subsection (d) of this section.

(f) After the period for the filing of exceptions under subsection (d) or (e) has expired the Board shall issue a written decision and serve copies upon the parties. If the hearing officer has issued recommendations under subsection (d), finding that the exceptions to the report of the Supervisor do not raise substantial and material factual issues, and exceptions to such recommendations have been filed, and after consideration of such exceptions the Board decides that the exceptions to the report of the Supervisor do raise substantial and material factual issues, the Board shall direct the hearing officer to issue a notice of hearing, whereupon the procedures for a hearing and the issuance of the hearing officer's report provided for in subsection (e) of this section (including the provision for filing exceptions to the hearing officer's report) shall be followed. The Board may adopt the recommendations of the hearing officer issued under subsection (d) or the proposed decision of the hearing officer issued under subsection (e) as its own. SMCS shall thereafter promptly proceed to take such action as may be called for by the decision of the Board, after which the case will be closed.

HISTORY

1. Renumbering of former section 15870 to new section 93070, including amendment of section and Note, filed 3-18-2013; operative 7-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 12).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 3541.3(g) and 3603, Government Code; and Sections 30751, 40122, 70122, 90300, 98162.5, 100301, 101344, 102403, 103401, 120505 and 125521, Appendix 1, Section 4.4, and Appendix 2, Section 13.91, Public Utilities Code. Reference: Sections 4.4, 13.91, 25052, 28851, 30751, 40122, 50121, 70122, 90300, 95651, 98162.5, 100301, 101344, 102403, 103401, 120505 and 125521, Public Utilities Code. Additional reference: Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, Section 9, 29 USC Section 159; 29 CFR Sections 102.60-102.72.