(a) Notwithstanding Section 709, an Indian tribe as described by Section 3306(u) of Title 26 of the United States Code, including tribes not covered by the Tribal-State Gaming Compact, may elect to become an employer subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601) with respect to all employees who meet either of the following conditions:
(1) Are employed in one or more distinct establishments or places of business.
(2) Are a part of an employee bargaining unit provided the election is the result of a negotiated agreement between the Indian tribe and the recognized employee organization. The Indian tribe also may elect to provide coverage to its management and confidential employees and to its employees who are not a part of an employee bargaining unit, but the election by the bargaining unit shall not be contingent upon coverage of other employees of the Indian tribe.
(b) Upon filing of 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 apply to an employer making an election pursuant to this section.
(c) This section does not affect the requirement that Indian tribes covered by the Tribal-State Gaming Compact be subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601).
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 511. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)