3558.7.
(a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Designated representative” means an officer of the exclusive representative or a member serving as a proxy of the exclusive representative.
(2) “Public employer” means the following:
(A) An entity described in subdivision (a) of Section 3555.5.
(B) A public employer subject to Chapter 10.4 (commencing with Section 3524.50).
(C) A public employer that employs public transit workers, the labor
relations of which are regulated by provisions in the Public
Utilities Code, and that is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Board.
(3) “Release time” means the time required for purposes described in subdivision (b).
(b) A public employer shall allow a reasonable number of employee representatives of the exclusive representative reasonable time off without loss of compensation or other benefits for the following activities:
(1) Investigating potential or existing grievances, processing grievances, or otherwise enforcing a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.
(2) Meeting and conferring, or meeting and negotiating, or both, with representatives
of the public employer on matters within the scope of representation, including preparation for activities described in this subdivision.
(3) Testifying or appearing as the designated representative or designated representatives of the exclusive representative at conferences, hearings, or other proceedings before the Public Employment Relations Board, or an agent of it, or the employee relations commission or board established by the County of Los Angeles or the City of Los Angeles, or its agent, in matters relating to a charge filed by the exclusive representative against the public employer or by the public employer against the exclusive representative.
(4) Testifying or appearing as
the designated representative or designated representatives of the exclusive representative in matters before the governing body of the public employer, a personnel, civil service, or merit commission, board of adjustment, or an arbitrator.
(5) Serving as a representative of the exclusive representative for new employee orientation.
(c) The exclusive representative shall provide reasonable notification to the public employer requesting a leave of absence for an employee representative for the purpose of exercising the rights established by subdivision (b).
(d) This section establishes minimum release time rights. This section
does not prevent the public employer and the exclusive representative from agreeing upon alternative release time provisions, provided that the agreement provides release time for all of the activities described in subdivision (b). This section does not excuse a public employer from complying with a provision in a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding that provides for release time for activities in addition to those described in subdivision (b).
(e) This section does not, and shall not be interpreted to, reduce or limit the amount of release time or leave-of-absence time that public employees may be entitled to under other laws.
(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 3555.5, the Public Employment Relations Board shall not have jurisdiction to enforce
this section with respect to public transit workers that are not otherwise subject to the board’s jurisdiction.