As used in this article:

(a) “State employee” means all persons who receive wages for services through the uniform payroll system established and administered by the Controller under Section 12470.

(b) “Public agency” includes counties, cities, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, public districts, and other public agencies of the state.

(c) “Employee organization” means an organization which represents employees of a public employer and that has been recognized or certified by the public employer or the Public Employment Relations Board as the exclusive representative of the employees.

(d) “Bona fide association” means an organization of employees and former employees of an agency of the state and the California State University, and which does not have as one of its purposes representing these employees in their employer-employee relations.

(e) “Deduction” does not include direct deposit by electronic fund transfer, as authorized by Sections 7506 and 12480.

(f) (1) “Public employer” means the state, the Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University and the California State University, the Judicial Council, a trial court, a county, city, district, public authority, including transit district, public agency, or any other political subdivision or public corporation of the state, except as provided in paragraph (2).

(2) A public school employer or community college district is not a public employer for purposes of transmittal of payroll deductions to professional organizations or employee organizations. These entities shall be governed by Sections 45060, 45168, 87833, and 88167 of the Education Code, as may be applicable.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 53, Sec. 5. (SB 866) Effective June 27, 2018.)