(1)    In this section, “authorization card” means a signed card that employees complete to indicate their preferences regarding collective bargaining.

   (2)   Notwithstanding s. 111.83 (2), the commission shall establish a procedure whereby research assistants may determine whether to form themselves into collective bargaining units under s. 111.825 (1r) (eh), (ei), or (er) or (1t) (er) by authorization cards in lieu of secret ballot. The procedure shall provide that once a majority of research assistants have indicated their preference on the authorization cards to form themselves into a collective bargaining unit, the collective bargaining unit is established.