Notwithstanding the definition of 'employer' and 'employment' set forth in section two hundred one of this article and the requirement for insurance policies to offer both disability and family leave coverage set forth in two hundred twenty six of this article, the state, any political subdivision of the state, a public authority or any other governmental agency or instrumentality, may elect to become a covered employer solely for the purpose of family leave benefits. Coverage for family leave benefits may be secured by a public employer, as that term is defined in subdivision one of section two hundred twelve-b of this article, as permitted by this article, including as applicable section two hundred eleven, subdivision four of section fifty, or section eighty-eight-c. The provider of family leave coverage for such public employees shall be exempt from the requirement that insurance policies offer both disability and family leave benefits in section two hundred twenty-six of this article.
New York Legal Code