§ 212-a. 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.