[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 397 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 397

 To apply arbitration to major league baseball, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 4, 1995

 Mr. Williams introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
          Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To apply arbitration to major league baseball, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Major League Play Ball Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to encourage serious negotiations 
between the major league baseball players and the owners of major 
league baseball, to prevent the continued economic loss to individuals 
not involved in the negotiations whose livelihood depends on baseball 
being played, to prevent ongoing losses to those communities that host 
major league baseball, to preserve major and minor league baseball, and 
to resolve the dispute between the players and owners.

SEC. 3. ARBITRATION.

    (a) In General.--Effective February 1, 1995, the dispute between 
the owners of major league baseball and the labor organization 
representing the players of major league baseball shall be subject to 
binding arbitration by the arbitration board established under 
subsection (b).
    (b) Arbitration Board.--
            (1) Establishment.--For purposes of subsection (a), there 
        is established an arbitration board which shall consist of--
                    (A) one representative of the owners of major 
                league baseball selected by such owners,
                    (B) one representative of the major league baseball 
                player's association selected by such association, and
                    (C) one individual to be selected in accordance 
                with the procedures of the American Arbitration 
                Association or procedures otherwise agreed to by the 
                parties.
        The board shall convene February 1, 1995 to resolve all issues 
        not resolved by the parties.
            (2) Authority.--The board shall have the power to take 
        testimony under oath, to conduct hearings, and to issue 
        subpoenas for books and records. The parties appearing before 
        the board may be represented by counsel.
            (3) Decision.--The board shall select between the final 
        offer of each party which may be submitted before the close of 
        the hearing held under paragraph (2). The board shall consider 
        the following in selecting the most appropriate offer--
                    (A) the unique legal status of major league 
                baseball,
                    (B) the history of collective bargaining agreements 
                between the parties,
                    (C) the changes in circumstances of the parties,
                    (D) the owner's ability to pay,
                    (E) the best interests of baseball, and
                    (F) other factors considered by arbitration panels 
                if applicable given the history of major league 
                baseball and past collective bargaining between the 
                parties.
        The board shall render a decision on March 15, 1995, which 
        shall be final, binding, and replace the basic agreement 
        between the parties which expired on December 31, 1993.

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