(a) For purposes of this subchapter, a public junior college is considered to be an institution of higher education and employees of the public junior college are considered to be state employees during a state fiscal year unless an affirmative decision not to participate under this subchapter is made by the governing board of the public junior college not later than April 1 of the preceding state fiscal year.
(b) An employee of a public junior college that elects not to participate in the state employee charitable contribution program may authorize a deduction from the employee’s salary or wage payment for a charitable contribution as provided by the policy of the governing board of the public junior college.