Section 418.551 - Assessments; notice; payment; assessments as elements of loss in establishing rates; continuation of liability; certification of receipts; delinquencies; disposition of money; invest
WORKER'S DISABILITY COMPENSATION ACT OF 1969 (EXCERPT)
Act 317 of 1969
418.551 Assessments; notice; payment; assessments as elements of loss in establishing rates; continuation of liability; certification of receipts; delinquencies; disposition of money; investments; disposition of earnings; reports and accounting.
Sec. 551.
(1) As soon as practicable after January 1 of each year, the director shall assess pursuant to subsection (3) a sum that in total is equal to 175% of the total disbursements made from the second injury fund during the preceding calendar year, less the amount of net assets in excess of $200,000.00 in that fund as of December 31 of the preceding calendar year.
(2) As soon as practicable after January 1 of each year, the director shall assess pursuant to subsection (3) a sum that in total is equal to 175% of the total disbursements made from the silicosis, dust disease, and logging industry compensation fund during the preceding calendar year, less the amount of net assets in excess of $200,000.00 in that fund as of December 31 of the preceding calendar year.
(3) The portion of the total assessment amounts under subsections (1) and (2) allocated to self-insurers shall be equal to a percentage determined as follows: The total paid losses of all self-insurers for the preceding calendar year divided by the total paid losses of all carriers during the preceding calendar year. The portion of the total assessment amounts under subsections (1) and (2) allocated to insurers shall be equal to a percentage determined as follows: The total paid losses of all insurers for the preceding calendar year divided by the total paid losses of all carriers during the preceding calendar year. The portion of the total assessments allocated to self-insurers that shall be collected from each self-insurer shall be equal to a percentage determined as follows: The total paid losses of each self-insurer divided by the total paid losses of all self-insurers during the preceding calendar year. The portion of the total assessment allocated to insurers that shall be collected from each insurer shall be equal to a percentage determined as follows: The amount of total direct premiums written as reported by each insurer divided by the amount of total direct premiums written as reported by all insurers during the preceding calendar year. As used in this subsection:
(a) “Direct premiums written” means standard written Michigan workers' compensation premium prior to the application of deductible credits, as reported to the designated advisory organization, through policy declarations and unit statistical reports compiled pursuant to the authority in section 2407 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.2407. For the purposes of determining assessments under this section, the reported data for the most recent full calendar year on file with the designated advisory organization shall be used.
(b) “Total paid losses” means total compensation benefits paid under this act, exclusive of payments made pursuant to sections 315, 319, and 345.
(4) The director, upon the advice of the trustee representing the self-insurers, may make additional assessments upon private self-insurers as the trustee considers necessary to keep the self-insurers' security fund solvent. The assessment shall not exceed 3% in any calendar year exclusive of payments made pursuant to sections 315, 319, and 345.
(5) Notice of the assessments shall be sent by the director by first class mail to each carrier. Payment of assessments shall be made so as to be received in the Lansing office of the bureau on or before a date specified uniformly in the notice, but not less than 90 days after the date of mailing.
(6) All assessments constitute elements of loss for the purpose of establishing rates for worker's compensation insurance.
(7) An employer who has stopped being a self-insurer shall continue to be liable for a second injury fund; silicosis, dust disease, and logging industry compensation fund; or self-insurers' security fund assessment on account of any compensation benefits, exclusive of payments made pursuant to sections 315, 319, and 345, paid by the employer during the previous calendar year.
(8) The director shall certify to the trustees the collection and receipt of all money from assessments, noting any delinquencies. The trustees shall immediately notify delinquent carriers, including private self-insurers, of their delinquency in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested. The trustees shall take action as in their judgment is proper to effect collection of any delinquent assessment. All money received from assessments under this section shall be turned over to the state treasurer who shall be the custodian of the self-insurers' security fund; the second injury fund; and the silicosis, dust disease, and logging industry compensation fund. The treasurer may make those investments as in the treasurer's judgment are in the best interest of the funds. The earnings from the investment of the money from the funds shall be credited to the funds. The state treasurer, at the end of each fiscal year, shall determine what amount represents a pro rata earnings share due to each fund, shall credit the pro rata earning share to each fund, and shall notify the trustee of the amount credited and the balance of the respective fund as of September 30. The trustees shall make separate annual reports and accountings for each fund, which reports shall be included in the annual report of the bureau.
History: 1969, Act 317, Eff. Dec. 31, 1969 ;-- Am. 1971, Act 149, Imd. Eff. Nov. 16, 1971 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 357, Eff. Jan. 1, 1982 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 32, Imd. Eff. Mar. 10, 1982 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 73, Imd. Eff. July 1, 1985 ;-- Am. 1992, Act 269, Imd. Eff. Dec. 15, 1992 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 25, Imd. Eff. Mar. 6, 2002
Popular Name: Act 317