SECTION 1. Section 28-7-45 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-7 entitled "Labor Relations Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
28-7-45. Employees exempt from chapter.
(a) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply: (1) To the employees of any employer who concedes to and agrees with the board that the employees are subject to and protected by the provisions of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, 29 U.S.C. § 141 et seq., or the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.; (2) Except as provided in Chapter 11 of title 36 as to employees of the state; (3) Except as provided in chapter 9.4 of this title as to employees of any political or civil subdivision or other agency thereof; (4) Except “firefighters” as defined in chapter 9.1 of this title and “police officers” as defined in chapter 9.2 of this title; or (5) Except “school teachers” as defined in chapter 9.3 of this title; provided, that in the case of firefighters, police officers, and healthcare provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, and orphanages, the provisions of this chapter shall apply, but nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed in any manner to grant to any firefighters, or police officers, or healthcare provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, and orphanages, the right to engage in any strike. Any strike by any firefighters, or police officers, or healthcare provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, and orphanages, shall be illegal.
(b) When an impasse is reached by an employer and a union representing healthcare provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, and orphanages, the mediation services of the department of labor and training shall be utilized for mediation and factfinding. If the issues remain unresolved, then the parties shall proceed to arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

SECTION 2. Section 28-9.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.3 entitled "Certified School Teachers’ Arbitration" is hereby amended to read as follows:
28-9.3-1. Declaration of policy — Purpose.
(a) In pursuance of the duty imposed upon it by the constitution to promote public schools and to adopt all means necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education, the general assembly declares that it recognizes teaching as a profession that requires special educational qualifications and that to achieve high quality education it is indispensable that good relations exist between teaching personnel and school committees.
(b) It is declared to be the public policy of this state to accord to certified public school teachers the right to organize, to be represented, to negotiate professionally, to strike, and to bargain on a collective basis with school committees covering hours, salary, working conditions, and other terms of professional employment; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to accord to certified public school teachers the right to strike.

SECTION 3. Sections 28-9.4-1 and 28-9.4-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.4 entitled "Municipal Employees’ Arbitration" are hereby amended to read as follows:
28-9.4-1. Declaration of policy — Purpose.
It is declared to be the public policy of this state to accord to municipal employees the right to organize, to be represented, to negotiate, and to bargain on a collective basis with municipal employers, covering hours, salary, working conditions and other terms of employment; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to accord to municipal employees the right to strike.
28-9.4-16. Strikes by municipal employees illegal Strikes by municipal firefighters and police officers illegal.
Municipal employees firefighters and police officers covered by the provisions of this chapter shall not have the right to engage in any strike, work stoppage, or slowdown strike; and any strike, work stoppage, or slowdown strike by municipal firefighters or police officers shall be illegal.

SECTION 4. Section 36-11-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-11 entitled "Organization of State Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows:
36-11-6. Powers of representative organizations. LC003447 - Page 2 of 4
Organizations representing state employees, firefighters as defined in § 28-9.1-3, and police officers as defined in § 28-9.2-3, shall enjoy all the benefits of and be subject to all the provisions of chapter 7 of title 28, except that those employees firefighters, correctional officers, 911 employees, and police officers shall not have the right to strike.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.