UIC §710.5: Notwithstanding Section 709, any public agency, as defined in Section 3501 of the Government Code, may elect to become an employer subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601) with respect to all

Notwithstanding Section 709, any public agency, as defined in Section 3501 of the Government Code, may elect to become an employer subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601) with respect to all employees who are a part of an appropriate unit established pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, provided the election is the result of a negotiated agreement between the public agency and the recognized employee organization, as those terms are defined in Section 3501 of the Government Code. The public agency employer also may elect to provide coverage to its management and confidential employees and to its employees who are not a part of an appropriate unit, but the election shall not be contingent upon coverage of other employees of the public agency employer. Upon filing of such an election, the filing entity shall, upon approval by the director, become an employer subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601) to the same extent as other employers, and services performed by its employees who are subject to an election under this section shall constitute employment subject to that part. Sections 986 and 2903 shall apply to an employer making an election pursuant to this section.