(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any two or more independent nonprofit colleges or universities accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or independent, nonprofit, accredited secondary educational institutions, located in and chartered by the State of Florida, may form a self-insurance fund for the purpose of pooling and spreading liabilities of its group members in any property or casualty risk or surety insurance or securing the payment of benefits under chapter 440, provided the independent educational institution self-insurance fund that is created must:
(a) Have annual normal premiums in excess of $5 million;
(b) Maintain a continuing program of excess insurance coverage and reserve evaluation to protect the financial stability of the fund in an amount and manner determined by a qualified and independent actuary;
(c) Submit annually an audited fiscal year-end financial statement by an independent certified public accountant within 6 months after the end of the fiscal year to the office; and
(d) Have a governing body which is comprised entirely of independent educational institution officials.
(2) An independent educational institution self-insurance fund that meets the requirements of this section is not subject to s. 624.4621 and is not required to file any report with the department under s. 440.38(2)(b) which is uniquely required of group self-insurer funds qualified under s. 624.4621. If any of the requirements of this section are not met, the independent educational self-insurance fund is subject to the requirements of s. 624.4621.
