Each park district may insure against any loss or liability of the park district, members of the park board, and employees thereof, by reason of civil rights damage claims and suits, constitutional rights damage claims and suits, death and bodily injury damage claims and suits, and property damage claims and suits, including defense thereof, when damages are sought for negligent or wrongful acts allegedly committed within the scope of employment, or under the direction, of the park board. Such insurance shall be carried with a company licensed to write such coverage in this State.
     Each park district may provide for or participate in the provision of insurance protection and benefits for its employees and their dependents, including but not limited to retirement annuities, and medical, surgical and hospitalization benefits, in such types and amounts as shall be determined by the board, for the purposes of aiding in securing and retaining the services of competent employees. Where employee participation in such provision is involved, the board, with the consent of the employee, may withhold deductions from the employee’s salary necessary to defray the employee’s share of such insurance costs. Such insurance or benefits may be contracted for only with an insurance company authorized to do business in this State. Such insurance may include provision for employees and their dependents who rely on treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone for healing, in accordance with the tenets and practice of a recognized religious denomination.
     For the purposes of this Section, “dependent” means an employee’s spouse and any unmarried child (1) under the age of 19 years, including (a) an adopted child and (b) a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the employee in a regular parent-child relationship or (2) under the age of 23 who is enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited school, college or university.