(a)
(1)Notwithstanding Section 709, a community college district established pursuant to Part 43 (commencing with Section 70900) of Division 7 of the Education Code may elect to become an employer subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601) with respect to all employees who are part of an appropriate unit established pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, if the election is the result of a negotiated agreement between the community college district and the certified employee organization, as that term is defined in subdivision (b) of Section 3540.1 of the Government Code. The community college district employer may also elect to provide coverage to its management and confidential employees and to its employees who are
not part of an appropriate unit, but the election shall not be contingent upon coverage of other employees of the community college district employer.
(2)
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a community college district established pursuant to Part 43 (commencing with Section 70900) of Division 7 of the Education Code that employs an academic employee, as defined in Section 87001 of the Education Code, may elect to provide coverage to permanent, part-time, or temporary academic employees, including permanent, part-time, temporary, or substitute faculty or instructors, but the election shall not be contingent upon coverage of other academic employees of the community college district employer.
(b)
Upon the filing of an election pursuant to subdivision (a), 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.
(c)
Sections 986 and 2903 shall apply to an employer making an election pursuant to this section.