National Labor Relations Board Reform Act

To amend the National Labor Relations Act to reform the National Labor Relations Board, the Office of the General Counsel, and the process for appellate review, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Labor Relations Board Reform Act 2. National Labor Relations Board (a) Composition; terms Section 3(a) of the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 153(a) (1) in the first sentence— (A) by striking prior to its amendment by the National Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, prior to its amendment by the National Labor Relations Board Reform Act (B) by striking five instead of three members 6 instead of 5 members (C) by striking appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate appointed by the President, after consultation with the leader of the Senate representing the party opposing the party of the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate (2) by striking the second sentence and inserting the following: The sixth member added by the first sentence of this section shall be appointed for a term that expires on the day before the first date on which a full term of another member of the Board commences that is after the date of enactment of the National Labor Relations Board Reform Act (3) in the fourth sentence (including the amendment made by paragraph (2))— (A) by striking Their successors, and the successors of the other members, The successor of such sixth member, and the successors of the other members, (B) by inserting (except as otherwise provided during the transition period under subsection (e)) each (C) by striking he the individual (b) Authority Section 3(b) of the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 153(b) (1) in the first sentence— (A) by striking three or more 4 or more (B) by inserting before the period the following: , with such group consisting of an equal number of members representing each major political party (2) in the third sentence— (A) by striking three members 4 members (B) by striking Board, except that hereof. Board. Any determination of the Board shall be approved by a majority of the members present. (c) Transition to improved staggered terms Section 3 of the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 153 (e) Transition to improved staggered terms Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision of this Act— (1) each term of a member of the Board appointed after the date of enactment of the National Labor Relations Board Reform Act (2) of the 6 members of the Board who are appointed for the terms beginning on January 1, 2028— (A) 2 of the members shall be appointed for terms ending on December 31, 2029; (B) 2 of the members shall be appointed for terms ending on December 31, 2031; and (C) 2 of the members shall be appointed for terms ending on December 31, 2032. . 3. General Counsel The National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq. (1) in section 3 ( 29 U.S.C. 153 (A) in subsection (d)— (i) in the second sentence, by striking trial examiners administrative law judges (ii) in the third sentence, by striking He shall Subject to subsection (f), the General Counsel shall (B) by adding at the end the following: (f) Review of General Counsel complaints (1) In general Any person subject to a complaint that is issued or authorized by the General Counsel under subsection (d) may obtain review of the complaint in any district court of the United States in the judicial district wherein the unfair labor practice in question was alleged to have occurred, wherein such person resides or transacts business, or in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, by filing in such court, not later than 30 days after such issuance or authorization, a written petition for review of the complaint. The court may prohibit any further proceedings relating to such complaint if the court determines that the General Counsel does not have substantial evidence that such person has violated this Act. (2) Discovery Any party to a complaint under paragraph (1) may file a request to the General Counsel to obtain any advice memorandum prepared by an attorney of the Division of Advice of the Office of the General Counsel, any internal memorandum of the Office of the General Counsel, or any other inter-agency or intra-agency memorandum or letter described in section 552(b)(5) of title 5, United States Code, related to the complaint. Not later than 10 days after the filing of such request, the General Counsel shall provide such party the requested memorandum or letter. ; and (2) in section 4(a) ( 29 U.S.C. 154(a) (A) in the second sentence by striking examiners administrative law judges (B) in the fourth sentence— (i) by striking trial examiner's report report of an administrative law judge (ii) by striking trial examiner shall advise administrative law judge shall advise 4. Final orders; discharge Section 10 of the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 160 (1) in subsection (c)— (A) by striking before an examiner or examiners thereof before an administrative law judge or administrative law judges thereof (B) by striking such examiner or examiners such judge or judges (2) in subsection (d)— (A) by inserting or the Board has issued a final order have been filed in a court (B) by striking at any time upon reasonable notice , not later than 1 year after the submission of a report of an administrative law judge, or a decision of a regional director, pertaining to such case or order, upon reasonable notice, (C) by adding at the end the following: The Board shall issue a final order reviewing an appeal of a report of an administrative law judge or decision of a regional director filed within 1 year after such report or decision. If the Board does not issue a final order within 1 year after the report of an administrative law judge or decision of a regional director, any party to the case may move to discharge the case. Upon such motion, the report of the administrative law judge or decision of the regional director shall be deemed to be a final agency action and the Board may not take further action on the matter under subchapter II of chapter 5

Summary: National Labor Relations Board Reform Act This bill expands the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and modifies the procedures for reviewing unfair labor practice complaints. Specifically, the bill increases from five to six the number of members on the NLRB and requires that each major political party is represented by three members each. It also permits an individual subject to a NLRB complaint of an unfair labor practice issued or authorized by the NLRB General Counsel to obtain review of the complaint in federal district court. An individual must file a written petition for such review not later than 30 days after the complaint is issued or authorized. The bill further permits either party to a complaint proceeding to appeal to a federal court of appeals if the NLRB does not issue a final order within one year after a report is issued by an administrative law judge or decision is issued by a regional director.