(a) A proposed workers' compensation self-insurance group shall file with the Commissioner its application for a certificate of approval accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee in accordance with § 701 of this title. The application shall include the group's name, location of its principal office, date or organization, name and address of each member and such other information as the Commissioner may reasonably require, together with the following:
(1) Proof of compliance with subsection (b) of this section;
(2) A copy of the articles of association, if any;
(3) A copy of agreements with the administrator and with any service company;
(4) A copy of the by-laws of the proposed group;
(5) A copy of the agreement between the group and each member securing the payment of workers' compensation benefits, which shall include provision for payment of assessments as provided for in § 419 of this title;
(6) Designation of the initial board of trustees and administrator;
(7) The address in this State where the books and records of the group will be maintained at all times;
(8) A pro forma financial statement, on a form acceptable to the Commissioner, showing the financial ability of the group to pay the workers' compensation obligations of its members; and
(9) Proof of payment to the group by each member of not less than 25% of that member's first-year estimated annual net premium on a date prescribed by the Commissioner. Each payment shall be considered to be part of the first-year premium payment of each member if the proposed group is granted a certificate of approval.
(b) To obtain and to maintain its certificate of authority, a workers' compensation self-insurance group shall comply with the following requirements as well as any other requirements established by law or regulation:
(1) A combined net worth of all members of a group of private employers of at least $1,000,000. Specific and aggregate excess insurance in a form, in an amount and by an insurance company acceptable to the Commissioner for a group of public employers.
(2) Security in a form and amount prescribed by the Commissioner which shall be provided by a surety bond, security deposit or financial security endorsement, or any combination thereof. If a surety bond is used to meet the security requirement, it shall be issued by a corporate surety company authorized to transact business in this State. If a security deposit is used to meet the security requirement, securities shall be limited to bonds or other evidences of indebtedness issued, assumed or guaranteed by the United States of America or by an agency or instrumentality thereof; certificates of deposit in a federally insured bank; shares or savings deposits in a federally insured savings and loan association or credit union; or any bond or security issued by a state of the United States of America and backed by the full faith and credit of the state. Any such securities shall be deposited in accordance with § 1504 of this title and assigned to and made negotiable by the Chairperson of the Industrial Accident Board and the Commissioner pursuant to a trust document acceptable to the Commissioner. Interest accruing on a negotiable security so deposited shall be collected and transmitted to the depositor, provided the depositor is not in default. A financial security endorsement, issued as part of an acceptable excess insurance contract, may be used to meet all or part of the security requirement. The bond, security deposit or financial security endorsement shall be:
a. For the benefit of the State solely to pay claims and associated expenses; and
b. Payable upon the failure of the group to pay workers' compensation benefits that it is legally obligated to pay.
The Commissioner may establish and adjust, from time to time, requirements for the amount of security based on differences among groups in their size, types of employment, years in existence and other relevant factors.
(3) Specific and aggregate excess insurance in a form, in an amount and by an insurance company acceptable to the Commissioner. The Commissioner may establish minimum requirements for the amount of specific and aggregate excess insurance based on differences among groups in their size, types of employment, years in existence and other relevant factors, and may permit a group to meet this requirement by placing in a designated depository securities of the type referred to in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(4) An estimated annual standard premium of at least $250,000 during a group's first year of operation.
(5) An indemnity agreement jointly and severally binding the group and each member thereof to meet the workers' compensation obligations of each member. The indemnity agreement shall be in a form prescribed by the Commissioner and shall include minimum uniform substantive provisions prescribed by the Commissioner. Subject to the Commissioner's approval, a group may add other provisions needed because of its particular circumstances.
(6) A fidelity bond for the administrator in a form and amount prescribed by the Commissioner.
(7) A fidelity bond for the service company in a form and amount prescribed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner may also require the service company providing claim services to furnish a performance bond in a form and amount prescribed by the Commissioner.
(c) A group shall notify the Commissioner of any change in the information required to be filed under subsection (a) of this section or in the manner of its compliance with subsection (b) of this section no later than 30 days after the change.
(d) The Commissioner shall evaluate the information provided by the application required to be filed under subsection (a) of this section to assure that no gaps in funding exist and that funds necessary to pay workers' compensation benefits will be available on a timely basis.
(e) The Commissioner shall act upon a completed application for a certificate of approval within 60 days. If, because of the number of applications, the Commissioner is unable to act upon an application within this period, the Commissioner shall have an additional 60 days to act.
(f) The Commissioner shall issue to the group a certificate of approval upon finding that the proposed group has met all requirements or the Commissioner shall issue an order refusing the certification, setting forth reasons for refusal upon finding that the proposed group does not meet all requirements.
(g) Each workers' compensation self-insurance group shall be deemed to have appointed the Commissioner as its attorney to receive service of legal process issued against it in this State. The appointment shall be irrevocable, shall bind any successor in interest and shall remain in effect as long as there is in this State any obligation or liability of the group for workers' compensation benefits.