1. 1. The division of family services in the department of social services is hereby authorized to elect, under the provisions of section 287.030, to come under the provisions of chapter 287, governing workers' compensation, and such law is hereby extended to include all employees of the division of family services under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, or under any appointment or election. The state of Missouri shall be a self-insurer and assume all liability imposed by chapter 287, in respect to the division of family services employees without insurance. The attorney general shall appear on behalf of and defend the state in all actions, when the state is a self-insurer, brought by employees of the division of family services referred to herein under the provisions of the workers' compensation law.
2. 2. Any persons assigned to perform work on welfare work projects initiated or sponsored by any state agency in carrying out a cooperative agreement with the United States government under the Federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, or any amendment thereto, shall be deemed to be employees of the division of family services only for the purpose of affording such employees workers' compensation coverage under chapter 287. The workers' compensation coverage may be provided by the purchase of insurance or by the deposit in the commissioner of administration's office of a fund from which workers' compensation benefits to such employees shall be paid. Purchase of the insurance or the deposit of a fund shall be made only from funds granted by the federal government.
3. 3. The division of family services shall adopt rules classifying the employees mentioned herein who may be eligible for compensation under this section, and its classification shall be decisive as to whether or not an employee falls within the definition of an employee eligible for workers' compensation coverage under this section.
4. 4. The director of the division of family services is authorized to perform such duties as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes of this section.

(L. 1965 p. 353 § 1)