The term "employer" as used in sections 10-7-201 and 10-7-202 includes counties, cities, cities and counties, incorporated towns, school districts, and other political subdivisions of this state; and such subdivisions, in order to promote the better efficiency of its employees, may insure its employees, or any class thereof, under a policy of group insurance covering life, health, or accident insurance for such employees and may pay, or authorize to be paid, out of the corporate revenue of such political subdivisions the premiums required from time to time to maintain such group insurance in force; and, if such employees are required to contribute to the cost of their insurance, deductions for this purpose may be made from their salaries.