(a)
Public agencies shall allow a reasonable number of public agency employee representatives of recognized employee organizations reasonable time off without loss of compensation or other benefits when they are participating in any one of the following activities:
(1)
Formally meeting and conferring with representatives of the public agency on matters within the scope of representation.
(2)
Testifying or appearing as the designated representative of the employee organization in conferences, hearings, or other proceedings before the board, or an agent thereof, in matters relating to a charge filed by the employee
organization against the public agency or by the public agency against the employee organization.
(3)
Testifying or appearing as the designated representative of the employee organization in matters before a personnel or merit commission.
(b)
The employee organization being represented shall provide reasonable notification to the employer requesting a leave of absence without loss of compensation pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c)
For the purposes of this section, “designated representative” means an officer of the employee organization or a member serving in proxy of the employee organization.