An Act To Clarify the Rights of Public Employee Unions and Public Employers To Agree through Collective Bargaining To Permit Payroll Deductions for Union Dues or Other Funds
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §32, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 176, §3, is amended to read:
For purposes of this subsection, "computer system" has the same meaning as in Title 17-A, section 431 and "leadership positions" means the presiding officers of each House of the Legislature, party leaders, the Clerk of the House, the Assistant Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate and the Assistant Secretary of the Senate.
This subsection may not be construed to prohibit a public employer from deducting dues or other funds from an employee's pay, as authorized by the employee and provided through a collective bargaining agreement, and remitting those funds to an account or fund owned by the employee's collective bargaining agent, even if the funds might be used for political or legislative purposes.
summary
The bill clarifies that the statutory prohibition on using a state computer to solicit political contributions does not bar a public employer from deducting union dues and other funds that are authorized by the employee and remitting that deduction to the union, even if the amount deducted might be used by the union for political or legislative purposes.