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.