(A) The administrator of workers' compensation shall require every self-insuring employer, including any self-insuring employer that is indemnified by a captive insurance company granted a certificate of authority under Chapter 3964. of the Revised Code, to pay a contribution, calculated under this section, to the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund established pursuant to this section. The fund shall provide for payment of compensation and benefits to employees of the self-insuring employer in order to cover any default in payment by that employer.

(B) The bureau of workers' compensation shall operate the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund for self-insuring employers. The administrator annually shall establish the contributions due from self-insuring employers for the fund at rates as low as possible but such as will assure sufficient moneys to guarantee the payment of any claims against the fund. The bureau's operation of the fund is not subject to sections 3929.10 to 3929.18 of the Revised Code or to regulation by the superintendent of insurance.

(C) If a self-insuring employer defaults, the bureau shall recover the amounts paid as a result of the default from the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund. If a self-insuring employer defaults and is in compliance with this section for the payment of contributions to the fund, such self-insuring employer is entitled to the immunity conferred by section 4123.74 of the Revised Code for any claim arising during any period the employer is in compliance with this section.

(D)

(1) There is hereby established a self-insuring employers' guaranty fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state and which shall be separate from the other funds established and administered pursuant to this chapter. The fund shall consist of contributions and other payments made by self-insuring employers under this section. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. The bureau shall make disbursements from the fund pursuant to this section.

(2) The administrator has the same powers to invest any of the surplus or reserve belonging to the fund as are delegated to the administrator under section 4123.44 of the Revised Code with respect to the state insurance fund. The administrator shall apply interest earned solely to the reduction of assessments for contributions from self-insuring employers and to the payments required due to defaults.

(3) If the bureau of workers' compensation board of directors determines that reinsurance of the risks of the fund is necessary to assure solvency of the fund, the board may:

(a) Enter into contracts for the purchase of reinsurance coverage of the risks of the fund with any company or agency authorized by law to issue contracts of reinsurance;

(b) Require the administrator to pay the cost of reinsurance from the fund;

(c) Include the costs of reinsurance as a liability and estimated liability of the fund.

(E) The administrator, with the advice and consent of the board, may adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the implementation of this section, including a rule, notwithstanding division (C) of this section, requiring self-insuring employers to provide security in addition to the contribution to the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund required by this section. The additional security required by the rule, as the administrator determines appropriate, shall be sufficient and adequate to provide for financial assurance to meet the obligations of self-insuring employers under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code.

(F) The purchase of coverage under this section by self-insuring employers is valid notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in division (A) of section 4123.82 of the Revised Code and is in addition to the indemnity contracts that self-insuring employers may purchase pursuant to division (B) of section 4123.82 of the Revised Code.

(G) The administrator, on behalf of the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund, has the rights of reimbursement and subrogation and shall collect from a defaulting self-insuring employer or other liable person all amounts the administrator has paid or reasonably expects to pay from the fund on account of the defaulting self-insuring employer.

(H) The assessments for contributions, the administration of the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund, the investment of the money in the fund, and the payment of liabilities incurred by the fund do not create any liability upon the state.

Except for a gross abuse of discretion, neither the board, nor the individual members thereof, nor the administrator shall incur any obligation or liability respecting the assessments for contributions, the administration of the self-insuring employers' guaranty fund, the investment of the fund, or the payment of liabilities therefrom.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 52, §1, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 117, §1, eff. 9/17/2014.

Effective Date: 09-01-1995; 2007 HB100 09-10-2007