(a) When the compensation of an employee is established at a fixed amount per unit of work with a maximum limit for the employee’s total annual, monthly, or biweekly compensation as an alternative method of compensation for the salary fixed for the class, the department shall provide for annual increases in the maximum limit equal in amount and payable under the same conditions as for other employees.
(b) If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if those provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.