Commission; powers and duties.

(1) The commission shall, in accordance with chapter 120, adopt, promulgate, amend, or rescind such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and administratively feasible to carry out the provisions of this part.

(2) To accomplish the objectives and carry out the duties prescribed by this part, the commission may preserve and enforce order during any proceeding; issue subpoenas for, administer oaths or affirmations to, and compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses; or issue subpoenas for, and compel the production of, books, papers, records, documents, and other evidence. However, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, no subpoena shall issue which commands the attendance or testimony of any commissioner or any commission employee at a commission proceeding with respect to the performance of official or assigned duties, or the production of books, papers, records, or documents of the commission which have been prepared during the performance of such duties.

(3) If any person:

(a) Misbehaves during a proceeding or so near the place thereof as to obstruct the same;

(b) Neglects to produce, after having been ordered to do so, any pertinent book, paper, record, or document; or

(c) Refuses or fails to appear after having been subpoenaed or, upon appearing, refuses to take oath or affirmation as a witness or, after having taken the oath, refuses to be examined according to law,

the commission shall certify the facts to the circuit court having jurisdiction in the county where the proceeding is taking place, which shall thereupon in a summary manner hear the evidence as to the acts complained of and, if the evidence so warrants, punish such person in the same manner and to the same extent as for a contempt committed before the court or commit such person upon the same conditions as if the doing of the forbidden act had occurred with reference to the process or order of, or in the presence of, the court.

(4) Any subpoena issued under this part must either be served by certified mail, return receipt requested, or be served personally by any person specified by law to serve process or by any person who is not a party and who is 18 years of age or older. When certified mail is used, a returned post office receipt constitutes proof of service. When personal service is used, if the subpoena is not served by a person specified by law to serve process, an affidavit of the person making service constitutes proof of service.

(5) The commission shall adopt rules as to the qualifications of persons who may serve as special magistrates and shall maintain a list of such qualified persons who are not employees of the commission. The commission may initiate dispute resolution procedures by special magistrates pursuant to this part.

(6) Pursuant to its established procedures, the commission shall resolve questions and controversies concerning claims for recognition as the bargaining agent for a bargaining unit, determine or approve units appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining, expeditiously process charges of unfair labor practices and violations of s. 447.505 by public employees, and resolve such other questions and controversies as it may be authorized herein to undertake. The petitioner, charging party, respondent, and any intervenors shall be the adversary parties before the commission in any adjudicatory proceeding conducted pursuant to this part. Any commission statement of general applicability that implements, interprets, or prescribes law or policy, made in the course of adjudicating a case pursuant to s. 447.307 or s. 447.503 does not constitute a rule within the meaning of s. 120.52.

(7) The commission shall provide by rule a procedure for the filing and prompt disposition of petitions for a declaratory statement as to the applicability of any statutory provision or any rule or order of the commission. Such rule or rules shall provide for, but not be limited to, an expeditious disposition of petitions posing questions relating to potential unfair labor practices. Commission disposition of a petition shall be final agency action and shall not constitute a rule as defined in s. 120.52.

(8) The commission or its designated agent shall hear appeals arising out of any suspension, reduction in pay, demotion, or dismissal of any permanent employee in the State Career Service System in the manner provided in s. 110.227.

(9) Pursuant to s. 447.208, the commission or its designated agent shall hear appeals, and enter such orders as it deems appropriate, arising out of:

(a) Section 110.124, relating to termination or transfer of State Career Service System employees aged 65 or older.

(b) Section 112.044(4), relating to age discrimination.

(c) Section 295.11, relating to reasons for not employing a preferred veteran applicant.

(10) Appeals to the commission pursuant to subsection (8) or subsection (9) shall be the exclusive administrative review of such actions, notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 120. However, nothing in this subsection shall affect an employee’s rights pursuant to s. 447.401 or s. 447.503.

(11) Decisions issued by the commission pursuant to subsection (8) or subsection (9) shall be final agency action which shall be reviewable pursuant to s. 447.504.

(12) Upon a petition by a public employer after it has been notified by the Department of Labor that the public employer’s protective arrangement covering mass transit employees does not meet the requirements of 49 U.S.C. s. 5333(b) and would jeopardize the public employer’s continued eligibility to receive Federal Transit Administration funding, the commission may waive the application of this part, but only to the extent necessary for the public employer to comply with 49 U.S.C. s. 5333(b).