62-1-13. Election of owner-operator of certain vehicles to participate in workers' compensation system as sole proprietor.

An owner-operator, as an independent contractor, may elect to participate in this state's workers' compensation system as a sole proprietor. Alternatively, an owner-operator and the motor carrier to whom the owner-operator's vehicle is leased may mutually agree that the owner-operator will be covered under the motor carrier's workers' compensation insurance policy or authorized self-insurance, if the owner-operator agrees to pay the premiums requested by the motor carrier. An agreement by an owner-operator and a motor carrier to include the owner-operator under the motor carrier's workers' compensation coverage does not affect the independent contractor status of the owner-operator. If the owner-operator makes the election as set forth in this paragraph, the owner-operator will be deemed bound by the provisions of this title.

Source: SL 1995, ch 296, § 4.