(a) An employee organization is entitled to membership dues deduction, on presentation by the employee organization of:

(1) dues deduction authorization cards;

(2) electronic membership application; or

(3) other method by which an employee has manifested assent for membership dues deduction.

(b) (1) A public employer shall commence making dues deductions as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days after receiving the proof presented under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) A public employer shall transmit membership dues to the employee organization within 30 days after the deductions are made.

(3) A public employer shall accept an authorization to deduct from the salary of a public employee an amount for the payment of dues in any format authorized under § 21-106 of the Commercial Law Article.

(c) This section may not be construed to require an employee to become a member of an employee organization.

(d) (1) The right of an employee organization to membership dues deduction shall remain in full force and effect until:

(i) an employee revokes membership in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement or the membership application;

(ii) the employee cancels membership dues deduction under § 2-403 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article; or

(iii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the employee is no longer employed by the public employer.

(2) If within a period of 1 year, the employee is employed by the same public employer in a position represented by the same exclusive representative, the right to membership dues deduction shall be automatically reinstated.

(e) If the employee who has consented to dues deduction is either removed from a public employer’s payroll or otherwise placed on an involuntary or voluntary leave of absence, whether paid or unpaid, the public employee’s membership dues deduction authorization shall:

(1) remain effective; and

(2) be continued on the public employee’s return to the payroll or restoration to active employment from a leave of absence.

(f) If an authorization for a public employer to make membership dues deduction was in effect on June 30, 2023:

(1) the right of the employee organization to membership dues deduction shall continue unless the right is terminated under subsection (d) of this section; and

(2) the employee organization may not be required to present new authorization under subsection (a) of this section.