(a) If, after a reasonable period of negotiation, the exclusive representative and the State reach an impasse, the Board upon petition of either party may authorize the parties to submit their differences to mediation. Within five days after receipt of the petition, the Board shall appoint a mediator who shall communicate with the parties and attempt to mediate an amicable settlement. A mediator shall be of high standing and not affiliated with either labor or management.

(b) If, after a minimum of 15 days after the appointment of a mediator, the impasse is not resolved, the mediator shall certify to the Board that the impasse continues.

(c) Upon the request of either party, the Board shall appoint a fact finder who has been mutually agreed upon by the parties. If the parties fail to agree on a fact finder within five days, the Board shall appoint a fact finder who shall be a person of high standing and shall not be affiliated with either labor or management. A member of the Board or any individual who has actively participated in mediation proceedings for which fact-finding has been called shall not be eligible to serve as a fact finder under this section unless agreed upon by the parties.

(d) The fact finder shall conduct hearings pursuant to rules of the Board. Upon request of either party or of the fact finder, the Board may issue subpoenas of persons and documents for the hearings and the fact finder may require that testimony be given under oath and may administer oaths.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the fact finder from mediating the dispute at any time prior to issuing recommendations.

(f) In making a recommendation, the fact finder shall consider whether the proposal increases the amount and quality of care provided to children and families in a manner that is more affordable for Vermont families and citizens and whether the subsidies provided are consistent with federal guidance.

(g) Upon completion of the hearings, the fact finder shall file written findings and recommendations with both parties.

(h) The costs of witnesses and other expenses incurred by either party in fact-finding proceedings shall be paid directly by the parties incurring them, and the costs and expenses of the fact finder shall be paid equally by the parties. The fact finder shall be paid a rate mutually agreed upon by the parties for each day or any part of a day while performing fact-finding duties and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties. A statement of fact-finding per diem and expenses shall be certified by the fact finder and submitted to the Board for approval. The Board shall provide a copy of approved fact-finding costs to each party with its order apportioning one-half of the total to each party for payment. Each party shall pay its half of the total within 15 days after receipt of the order. Approval by the Board of the fact finder's costs and expenses and its order for payment shall be final as to the parties.

(i) If the dispute remains unresolved 15 days after transmittal of findings and recommendations, each party shall submit to the Board its last best offer on all disputed issues as a single package. Each party's last best offer shall be filed with the Board under seal and shall be unsealed and placed in the public record only when both parties' last best offers are filed with the Board. The Board may hold hearings and consider the recommendations of the fact finder. Within 30 days of the certifications, the Board shall select between the last best offers of the parties, considered in their entirety without amendment, and shall determine that selection's cost. The Board shall not issue an order under this subsection that is in conflict with any law or rule or that relates to an issue that is not a mandatory subject of collective bargaining. The Board shall determine the cost of the agreement selected and recommend to the General Assembly its choice with a request for appropriation. If the General Assembly appropriates sufficient funds, the agreement shall become effective and legally binding at the beginning of the next fiscal year. If the General Assembly appropriates a different amount of funds, the terms of the agreement affected by that appropriation shall be renegotiated based on the amount of funds actually appropriated by the General Assembly, and the agreement with the negotiated changes shall become effective and binding at the beginning of the next fiscal year. (Added 2013, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2014.)