Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 709, any public school employer, as defined in Section 3540.1 of the Government Code, may elect to become an employer subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601) of this division, with respect to all employees who are a part of an appropriate unit established pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, provided such election is the result of a negotiated agreement between the public school employer and the certified employee organization, as such terms are defined in Section 3540.1 of the Government Code. The public school employer may elect to provide coverage to its management and confidential employees, as such terms are defined in Section 3540.1 of the Government Code, and to employees not a part of an appropriate unit, but such election shall not be contingent upon coverage of other employees of the public school 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) of this division to the same extent as other employers, and services performed by its employees, including those with civil service or tenure positions, shall constitute employment subject to such part. Beginning at that time, the public school employer shall withhold from the wages of employees the contributions required for unemployment compensation disability benefits.