(a) The term "public employee" means any person holding a position by appointment or employment in the service of a public employer.

(b) The term "public employer" means (i) the state of New York, (ii) a county, city, town, village or any other political subdivision or civil division of the state, (iii) a school district or any governmental entity operating a public school, college or university, (iv) a public improvement or special district, (v) a public authority, commission, or public benefit corporation, or (vi) any other public corporation, agency or instrumentality or unit of government which exercises governmental powers under the laws of the state.

(c) The term "team" means any group leader, coach, official or athlete who comprises the official delegation of the United States to world, Pan American or Olympic competition. 2. A public employee who qualifies as a member of a United States team for athletic competition on the world, Pan American or Olympic level, in a sport contested in either Pan American or Olympic competitions, shall at the discretion of the public employer be granted a leave of absence from employment without loss of pay or diminution of any other privilege, benefit or right arising out of such employment and in accordance with the provisions of this section. 3. Such leave shall be available only for the purpose of preparing for and engaging in either or both such competitions and in no event shall the total of all such leave granted to a public employee exceed the period of the official training camp and competition combined or ninety calendar days a year, whichever is less. 4. The electing public employer shall pay at the employee's regular rate of pay for each week of leave granted in the amount the employee would receive for a standard work week. The employee shall not be entitled to receive compensation for any day spent in camp or competition for which compensation would not ordinarily be paid. 5. The president of the civil service commission shall promulgate appropriate rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.