Ch. 645                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND

of compensation and medical treatment. In order to . be informed
as to the continued financial responsibility of any employer,
the Commission [may] SHALL require ANNUAL reports [from him
annually] or at any other times as the Commission may deem
necessary or advisable, and may examine the employer under path
or make other examination of his business as the Commission may
determine. If 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] § 16(1) OR (2) OF THIS ARTICLE, and shall be required by
the Commission to insure as provided in [the first paragraph of
this section] § 16(1) OF THIS ARTICLE, unless he, at once,
insures voluntarily as provided in [the second paragraph of this
section.] § 16(2) OF THIS ARTICLE.

[(ii)] (2) The Commission [may] SHALL 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)] (3) For the purpose of this [paragraph]
SECTION "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.] (4) (I) 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.] (II) The Workmen's Compensation
Commission shall provide for advance premium discounts that are
competitive with private insurance advance premium discounts.

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

[(v)] (5) 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

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