Ch. 466                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND

he should fail to furnish satisfactory proof, or give bond, or
deposit securities as required by the Commission, or if he should
at any time fail to render satisfactory reports to the Commission
or otherwise satisfy the Commission of its continued financial
ability to pay the compensation, he shall be subject to the
provisions of the first paragraph of this section, and shall be
required by the Commission to insure as provided in the first
paragraph of this section, unless he, at once, insures
voluntarily as provided in the second paragraph of this section.

(ii) The Commission may assess each
self-insurer or group of self-insured counties or municipalities
an annual sum of not more than $500 which shall be used for
actuarial studies and audits to determine the financial solvency.

(iii) For the purpose of this paragraph
"employer" includes a group of counties, a group of
municipalities, or a group composed of both counties and
municipalities as prescribed by rules and regulations of the
Commission.

(iv) 1. The Workmen's Compensation Commission
shall develop rules and regulations prescribing requirements and
procedures for groups of counties, groups of municipalities, or
groups composed of both counties and municipalities seeking to
establish joint self-insurance coverage. However, to qualify as
a group for purposes of this section a group must prove to the
satisfaction of the Commission that it would receive annual gross
premiums in an amount of not less than $250,000.

2.  The Workmen's Compensation Commission
shall provide for advance premium discounts that are competitive
with private insurance advance premium discounts.

3.  A group that qualifies under the
provisions of this subparagraph shall obtain excess insurance in
amounts prescribed by the Workmen's Compensation Commission.

(v) A group of counties, a group of
municipalities, or a group composed of both counties and
municipalities may not be self-insured without first receiving a
certificate of authority to do business issued by the Workmen's
Compensation Commission.

(vi) For the purposes of workmen's
compensation, self-insurers and groups of counties, groups of
municipalities, or groups composed of both counties and
municipalities which are self-insured pursuant to this paragraph
are not subject to the provisions of Article 48A of the Code.

(vii) For the purposes of this subsection, with
the approval of its county governing body [a county board of

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