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Conference committee narrows bill language on public-employee speech but senators warn of chilling effect
Summary
The committee agreed to wording changes intended to clarify which bodies appoint public employees and to replace undefined terms, but some senators urged holding the Senate position, saying the bill could deter public employees from speaking in their official capacity.
A legislative committee of conference on Thursday agreed to tighten language in a house-amended bill concerning public employees and political activity, replacing the phrase “legislative body” with “governing body” and substituting the undefined term “measure” with the statutorily defined term “warrant article.”
Committee members said the edit corrects drafting imprecision: select boards and other governing bodies, not a generic “legislative body,” appoint public employees under existing law. The change was proposed on amendment number 2798 and accepted in committee.
Why it matters: The bill seeks to limit certain political activity by public employees while…
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