If after a reasonable period of time, representatives of the trial court and the recognized employee organization fail to reach agreement, the trial court and the recognized employee organization or recognized employee organizations together may agree upon the appointment of a mediator mutually agreeable to the parties. Costs of mediation, if any, shall be divided one-half to the trial court and one-half to the recognized employee organization or recognized employee organizations.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1010, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2001.)