(1) "Board" means the State Labor Relations Board established under 3 V.S.A. § 921.

(2) "Collective bargaining" or "bargaining collectively" means the process by which the State and the exclusive representative of early care and education providers negotiate terms or conditions related to the subjects of collective bargaining identified in subsection 3603(b) of this chapter that when reached and funded shall be legally binding.

(3) "Early care and education provider" means a licensed child care home provider, a registered child care home provider, or a legally exempt child care home provider, which is defined by the Legally Exempt Child Care Provider Requirements set forth by the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division, who provides child care services as defined in subdivision 3511(4) of this title.

(4) "Exclusive representative" means the labor organization that has been elected or recognized and certified by the Board under this chapter and consequently has the exclusive right under section 3608 of this chapter to represent early care and education providers for the purpose of collective bargaining and the enforcement of any contract provisions.

(5) "Grievance" means the exclusive representative's formal written complaint regarding an improper application of one or more terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

(6) "Subsidy payment" means any payment made by the State to assist families in paying for child care services through the State's child care financial assistance program. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014.)