SB 610 - This act requires employee authorization before public employee labor unions can withhold fees from employees' paychecks or make political contributions. This act changes current law by requiring public employees to authorize, in writing, payroll deductions to be paid to labor organizations. The employee must authorize the amount to be withheld and authorize that such an amount may be used for political contributions. The employee may also stipulate to which committee their fees will be paid. Authorizing or refraining from authorizing any amount shall in no way affect employment. The public employee labor organization must keep records of all authorizations and submit them to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. The labor organization will be charged the greater of eight dollars or two percent of the authorized deduction for administration expenses. This act is similar to SB 814 (1998). CHRIS HOGERTY