Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §979-R, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 773, §5 and affected by §7, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§979-R.__Continuation of grievance arbitration provisions

1.__Contract signed before October 1, 2005.__If a contract between a public employer and a bargaining agent signed prior to October 1, 2005 expires prior to the parties' agreement on a new contract, the grievance arbitration provisions of the expired contract pertaining to disciplinary action remain in effect until the parties execute a new contract.

2.__Contract signed after October 1, 2005.__If a contract between a public employer and a bargaining agent signed after October 1, 2005 expires prior to the parties' agreement on a new contract, the grievance arbitration provisions of the expired contract remain in effect until the parties execute a new contract.__In any arbitration that is conducted pursuant to this subsection, an arbitrator shall apply only those provisions enforceable by virtue of the static status quo doctrine and may not add to, restrict or modify the applicable static status quo following the expiration of the contract unless the parties have otherwise agreed in the collective bargaining agreement. All such grievances that are appealed to arbitration are subject exclusively to the grievance and arbitration process contained in the expired agreement, and the board does not have jurisdiction over such grievances.__The arbitrator's determination is subject to appeal, pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act.__Disputes over which provisions in an expired contract are enforceable by virtue of the static status quo doctrine first must be resolved by the board, subject to appeal pursuant to applicable law.__The grievance arbitration is stayed pending resolution of this issue by the board.__The board may adopt rules as necessary to establish a procedure to implement the intent of this section.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical