( CNN ) -- The growing push to restrict the collective bargaining rights of government employees has reached the far-flung state of Alaska . There , a Republican state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would strip many public employees of the right to collectively bargain for hours , benefits and working conditions . State employees could still collectively bargain for wages under the legislation . The bill exempts firefighters , police officers and emergency medical technicians , who , according to Title 40 of the Alaska Statutes , are prohibited from going on strike . The bill 's sponsor , state Representative Carl Gatto , R-Palmer , said his legislation mimics a measure that was passed by the Wisconsin Legislature earlier this month , signed into law and is now the subject of a lawsuit . `` It is the Wisconsin arrangement , '' Gatto told CNN . Gatto said that his bill , like the Wisconsin measure , is aimed at curbing state costs . Similar bills to limit collective bargaining rights also are pending in Ohio and Indiana . Opponents of the bill give the measure little chance of passing this session . That 's because the 2011 session of the Alaska Legislature is roughly two-thirds over , they said . Also , opponents said , Alaska lawmakers have been focused on controversial legislation to roll back the state 's oil and gas tax on profits earned by petroleum companies in the state . Gatto said he does n't necessarily disagree that his bill probably wo n't pass this year . `` This is such a union state , '' Gatto said . `` But if you just decide that it does n't have a chance that guarantees the public will never know about it . You have to build , build , build and ultimately if you do enough building , you 'll end up with a house . '' House minority leader Beth Kerttula , D-Juneau , said Gatto 's bill `` would be a particularly onerous thing to drop on state employees . '' Kerttula said public employees are still smarting from a 2005 overhaul of the state 's retirement , pension and health care system . Kerttula called the switch `` a disaster '' in a state that has a difficult time retaining qualified teachers and police officers . `` I can not tell you how wrong she is , '' Gatto said . `` We have teachers lined up to teach here because we pay a decent wage . '' Gatto agreed with Kerttula that the bill would face tough sledding in the state Senate , where , unlike the GOP-controlled House , the balance of power between Republicans and Democrats is evenly divided . Kerttula , nevertheless , said the Democratic minority leadership is taking the bill seriously . Gatto said he thinks he can get his bill to the House floor for a vote and and that , if it gets that far , the measure could get passed out of the chamber . Because the 2011 session is the first year of a two-year session for the Alaska Legislature , the bill would not have to be reintroduced in 2012 . State Representative Berta Gardner , D-Anchorage , who is the House minority whip , wondered whether the proposed collective bargaining bill for Alaska public employees could spark as fierce an argument as Wisconsin 's , which prompted 14 Democrats to leave the state in an unsuccessful effort to kill that bill . `` If the Democrats flee here , '' Gardner said , `` we 'll have to go to Canada . ''
NEW : Alaska GOP leader says his collective bargaining bill faces tough sledding . The legislator said his bill faces Wisconsin measure . Opponents say there 's not enough time in the legislative process to pass the bill .