1. A.

   1. 1. Volunteer fire departments organized pursuant to state law may obtain workers’ compensation insurance for volunteer firefighters through the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool pursuant to requirements established by the State Insurance Fund which shall administer the Pool. For the premium set by the State Insurance Fund, the state shall provide Fifty-five Dollars ($55.00) per firefighter per year; provided, that the total amount paid by the state shall not exceed Two Hundred Seventy Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-eight Dollars ($270,338.00) per year for a period of three (3) years.
   2. 2. Any funds received by the State Insurance Fund from any state agency, public trust, or other instrumentality for purposes of workers’ compensation insurance pursuant to this section shall be deposited to the credit of the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool. The State Insurance Fund shall collect premiums, pay claims, and provide for excess insurance as needed.
2. B. The State Insurance Fund shall report, annually, to the Governor, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate the number of enrollees in the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool; and shall also provide to the Governor, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate sixty (60) days advanced notice of any proposed change in rates for the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool.
3. C. The amount of claims paid, claim expenses, underwriting losses, loss ratio, or any other financial aspect of the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool shall not be considered when determining or considering bids for the amount of any premiums, rates, or expenses owed by, or any discounts, rebates, dividends, or other financial benefits owed to any other policyholder of the State Insurance Fund.
4. D. Except as otherwise provided by law, after the three-year period specified in subsection A of this section, any increase in the state payment rate for volunteer firefighters under the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool shall not exceed five percent (5%) per annum. Any proposed change in rates for the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool must be approved by the Board of Managers of the State Insurance Fund with notice provided pursuant to subsection B of this section. The State Insurance Fund shall not increase premiums for the Volunteer Firefighter Group Insurance Pool more than once per annum.
5. E. For purposes of this section, the term “volunteer fire departments” includes those volunteer fire departments which have authorized voluntary or uncompensated workers rendering services as firefighters and are created by statute pursuant to Section 592 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, Sections 29-201 through 29-205 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and those defined by Section 351 of Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Laws 2001, HB 1530, c. 367, § 1, emerg. eff. June 4, 2001.