(A)

(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, the bureau of workers' compensation shall disburse the state insurance fund to employees of employers who have paid into the fund the premiums applicable to the classes to which they belong when the employees have been injured in the course of their employment, wherever the injuries have occurred, and provided the injuries have not been purposely self-inflicted, or to the dependents of the employees in case death has ensued.

(2) As long as injuries have not been purposely self-inflicted, the bureau shall disburse the surplus fund created under section 4123.34 of the Revised Code to off-duty peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and first responders, or to their dependents if death ensues, who are injured while responding to inherently dangerous situations that call for an immediate response on the part of the person, regardless of whether the person was within the limits of the person's jurisdiction when responding, on the condition that the person responds to the situation as the person otherwise would if the person were on duty in the person's jurisdiction.

As used in division (A)(2) of this section, "peace officer," "firefighter," "emergency medical technician," "first responder," and "jurisdiction" have the same meanings as in section 4123.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) All self-insuring employers, in compliance with this chapter, shall pay the compensation to injured employees, or to the dependents of employees who have been killed in the course of their employment, unless the injury or death of the employee was purposely self-inflicted, and shall furnish the medical, surgical, nurse, and hospital care and attention or funeral expenses as would have been paid and furnished by virtue of this chapter under a similar state of facts by the bureau out of the state insurance fund if the employer had paid the premium into the fund.

If any rule or regulation of a self-insuring employer provides for or authorizes the payment of greater compensation or more complete or extended medical care, nursing, surgical, and hospital attention, or funeral expenses to the injured employees, or to the dependents of the employees as may be killed, the employer shall pay to the employees, or to the dependents of employees killed, the amount of compensation and furnish the medical care, nursing, surgical, and hospital attention or funeral expenses provided by the self-insuring employer's rules and regulations.

(C) Payment to injured employees, or to their dependents in case death has ensued, is in lieu of any and all rights of action against the employer of the injured or killed employees.

Effective Date: 09-30-1998 .