§ 2424.6 - Position of the agency; time limits for filing; service.

(a) Within thirty (30) days after the date of the receipt by the head of an agency of a copy of a petition for review of a negotiability issue the agency shall file a statement—

(1) Withdrawing the allegation that the duty to bargain in good faith does not extend to the matter proposed to be negotiated; or

(2) Setting forth in full its position on any matters relevant to the petition which it wishes the Authority to consider in reaching its decision, including a full and detailed statement of its reasons supporting the allegation. The statement shall cite the section of any law, rule or regulation relied upon as a basis for the allegation and shall contain a copy of any internal agency rule or regulation so relied upon. The statement shall include:

(i) Explanation of the meaning the agency attributes to the proposal as a whole, including any terms of art, acronyms, technical language or any other aspect of the language of the proposal which is not in common usage; and

(ii) Description of a particular work situation, or other particular circumstance the agency views the proposal to concern, which will enable the Authority to understand the context in which the proposal is considered to apply by the agency.

(b) A copy of the agency's statement of position, including all attachments thereto shall be served on the exclusive representative.