Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §965, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1975, c. 564, §18, is further amended to read:

4. Arbitration. In addition to the 30-day period referred to in subsection 3, the parties shall have 15 more days, making a total period of 45 days from the submission of findings and recommendations, in which to make a good faith effort to resolve their controversy.

If the parties have not resolved their controversy by the end of said the 45-day period, they may jointly agree to an arbitration procedure which that will result in a binding determination of their controversy. Such determinations will be are subject to review by the Superior Court in the manner specified by section 972.

If they do not jointly agree to such an arbitration procedure within 10 days after the end of said the 45-day period, then either party may, by written notice to the other, request that their differences be submitted to a board of 3 arbitrators. The bargaining agent and the public employer shall within 5 days of such the request each select and name one arbitrator and shall immediately thereafter notify each other in writing of the name and address of the person so selected. The 2 arbitrators so selected and named shall, within 10 days from such the request, agree upon and select and name a neutral arbitrator. If either party shall does not select its arbitrator or if the 2 arbitrators shall fail to agree upon, select and name a neutral arbitrator within said the 10 days, either party may request the American Arbitration Association or a successor organization to utilize its procedures for the selection of the neutral arbitrator. As soon as possible after receipt of such the request, the neutral arbitrator will must be selected in accordance with rules and procedures prescribed by the American Arbitration Association for making such a selection. The neutral arbitrator so selected will may not, without the consent of both parties, be the same person who was selected as mediator pursuant to subsection 2 nor any member of the fact-finding board selected pursuant to subsection 3. As soon as possible after the selection of the neutral arbitrator, the 3 arbitrators or, if either party shall has not have selected its arbitrator, the 2 arbitrators, as the case may be, shall meet with the parties or their representatives, or both, forthwith, either jointly or separately,; make inquiries and investigations,; hold hearings, or; and take such other steps as they deem consider appropriate. If the neutral arbitrator is selected by utilizing the procedures of the American Arbitration Association, the arbitration proceedings will must be conducted in accordance with the rules