An Act To Allow the Purchase of Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage for Domestic Employees from an Insurance Company That Provides Liability Insurance for Homeowners or Tenants

Sec. 1. 39-A MRSA §401, sub-§1, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 and affected by §§9 to 11, is amended to read:

Sec. 2. 39-A MRSA §405-A  is enacted to read:

§ 405-A.  Voluntary coverage of employees engaged in domestic service

An employer of an employee engaged in domestic service is subject to this Act if the employer voluntarily obtains workers' compensation insurance covering that employee as provided under section 405 from an insurance company providing liability insurance for homeowners or tenants in this State. An insurance company authorized to provide liability insurance for homeowners or tenants in this State may, in connection with such insurance, provide workers' compensation insurance covering employees engaged in domestic service. Workers' compensation insurance provided under this section is not subject to the financial or other requirements with respect to workers' compensation insurance in addition to those requirements for writing liability insurance for homeowners or tenants. Premium rates and policy forms or endorsements used by an insurance company to provide workers' compensation insurance under this section must be approved by the Superintendent of Insurance.

summary

This bill permits employers of domestic workers to voluntarily procure workers' compensation insurance for those workers from an insurance company providing liability insurance for homeowners or tenants in this State and authorizes those companies to provide such insurance.