Amends existing law to provide for mediation, to provide a process for factfinder selection, and to provide that strikes shall be prohibited during dispute resolution and for two weeks thereafter.

This legislation amends Idaho Code §§ 44-1806 and 44-1807 pertaining to firefighter collective bargaining. Under existing law, if an impasse between the representative(s) of the employer and the firefighters is reached, the parties will use Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) as mediators to try and resolve the issue(s). If the issue(s) is/are not resolved through mediation, the proposed amendments affect how fact-finders are selected; institutes a process for how a final contract is produced using previously negotiated articles in conjunctionwiththefact-finder'srecommendations; andmakesthefact-finder'sdecisionfinalandbindingupon both parties, rather than merely advisory. A two-week period will be available for both sides to come together and resolve the issue before the fact-finding decision becomes binding.