Section 800. Definitions

The following words and phrases as used in this
  article shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning  is
  plainly required by the context.
    a.  "Public retirement system" shall mean the New York state and local
  employees' retirement system, the New York state and  local  police  and
  fire  retirement system, New York state teachers' retirement system, New
  York  city  employees'  retirement  system,  New  York  city   teachers'
  retirement system, New York city police pension fund, New York city fire
  department  pension  fund  and  the  New  York  city  board of education
  retirement system.
    b. "Employer" or "participating employer" shall mean the state of  New
  York  and  any  other  unit  of  government  or organization which makes
  contributions to a public retirement system on behalf of its  employees.
  Provided however, that the provisions of this article shall not apply to
  the  city  of  New York until such city enacts a local law adopting this
  article in its entirety. Until such date (subject to the  provisions  of
  section  eight  hundred  six  of  this  article),  no member of a public
  retirement system: (i) who is an employee of the city of New York  shall
  have any rights created by the provisions of this article or (ii) who is
  not an employee of the city of New York shall have any rights created by
  this  article  resulting  from  any  prior employment by the city of New
  York. For the purposes herein: (i) the "city of New York" shall include:
  (a) every employer other than a state employer which participates in the
  New York city employees' retirement  system,  New  York  city  teachers'
  retirement system, New York city police pension fund, New York city fire
  department  pension  fund  or  the  New  York  city  board  of education
  retirement system, and (b) a city of New  York  funded  college  of  the
  state  university  of New York located within such city, the city of New
  York libraries subject to section thirty-two of this  chapter,  and  the
  civilian  and  uniformed  employees  described in subdivision sixteen of
  section twelve hundred four of the public authorities law;  and  (ii)  a
  "state  employer"  shall  mean  the  unified  court  system,  the senior
  colleges of the city  university  of  New  York  and  a  public  benefit
  corporation,  public corporation or subsidiary corporation a majority of
  the members of which are appointed by the governor, designated by virtue
  of their state office or appointed or designated by any  combination  of
  the foregoing.
    c.  "Head  of the retirement system" shall mean the state comptroller,
  with respect to the state and local employees' retirement system and the
  state and local police and fire retirement system,  and  the  retirement
  board of the other public retirement systems.