2. a. The Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, on behalf of the State of New Jersey, shall meet in good faith with the CWA, as the recognized exclusive majority representative of all community care residential providers, for the purpose of entering into a written agreement, or negotiating a renewal or extension, with any agreed upon modifications, of any agreement in effect upon or after the effective date of this act, regarding reimbursement rates, payment procedures, benefits, health and safety conditions and any other matters that would improve recruitment and retention of qualified community care residential providers and the quality of the programs they provide, subject to the provisions of this section. Although community care residential providers are not State employees, the subjects which may be included in an agreement shall be consistent with the areas which are considered negotiable for public employees who are subject to the provisions of the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-1 et seq.). Nothing in this act shall require that an agreement be reached on any particular matter provided the parties act in good faith.

b. The purpose of this section is to permit community care residential providers to select an exclusive majority representative to represent them as provided in this section. This act is intended by the Legislature to provide state action immunity under federal and state antitrust laws for any action of the State, or joint action of community care residential providers and their exclusive majority representative, to the extent those actions are authorized by this act. The protections and prohibitions regarding unfair practices provided by section 1 of P.L.1974, c.123 (C. 34:13A-5.4) shall apply to any community care residential providers subject to this act, to the State as their employer, and to their employee organizations, representatives or agents.

c. Any agreement entered into, renewed or extended pursuant to this section shall be embodied in writing and shall be binding upon the State of New Jersey, and shall provide for the payment of union dues and representation fees in a manner consistent with the provisions of the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-1 et seq.) which apply to the payment of union dues and representation fees by public employees.

L.2009, c.270, s.2.