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Bill would require 120-day notice when public-utility call centers relocate, sponsor says
Summary
Vice Chair Williams presented SB 192 to require 120 days' advance notice to the Public Service Commission, affected employees and union leadership before a public utility relocates call-center work outside its service territory; IBEW Local 1238 testified in favor. The committee moved the bill but lacked a quorum and walked it.
Vice Chair Williams presented Senate Bill 192 to the House Labor Committee as a targeted measure aimed at call centers serving public utilities.
"Senate Bill 192 applies only to call centers serving a public utility," Williams said. Under the proposal, a public utility that plans to relocate a call center outside its service territory or to contract those services outside the territory must provide at least 120 days' advance written notice to the Public Service Commission, current and potential call-center employees, and the leadership of any labor unions representing those employees. Williams said the bill includes an exemption for relocations caused by "disasters" as defined in Delaware Code, including man-made events, transportation accidents and war-caused events.
Nick Barone of IBEW Local 1238 testified in person in support, calling SB 192 "simply an informational piece" that would raise awareness of impacts when call centers relocate and help affected workers and communities prepare.
Committee members did not ask further questions. A motion to release the bill was made and seconded, but during roll call the chair recorded that the committee was one vote short of the seven required to release legislation, and he said he would walk the bill to seek sufficient votes at a later meeting.
