From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 3, 2006]
[CITE: 30USC933]

 
                   TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
 
                   CHAPTER 22--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
 
                   SUBCHAPTER IV--BLACK LUNG BENEFITS
 
           Part C--Claims for Benefits After December 31, 1973
 
Sec. 933. Duties of operators in States not qualifying under 
        workmen's compensation laws
        

(a) Securing of benefits for miners; self-insurers; mutual companies

    During any period in which a State workmen's compensation law is not 
included on the list published by the Secretary under section 931(b) of 
this title each operator of a coal mine in such State shall secure the 
payment of benefits for which he is liable under section 932 of this 
title by (1) qualifying as a self-insurer in accordance with regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary, or (2) insuring and keeping insured the 
payment of such benefits with any stock company or mutual company or 
association, or with any other person or fund, including any State fund, 
while such company, association, person or fund is authorized under the 
laws of any State to insure workmen's compensation.

(b) Required provisions of insurance contracts

    In order to meet the requirements of clause (2) of subsection (a) of 
this section, every policy or contract of insurance must contain--
        (1) a provision to pay benefits required under section 932 of 
    this title, notwithstanding the provisions of the State workmen's 
    compensation law which may provide for lesser payments;
        (2) a provision that insolvency or bankruptcy of the operator or 
    discharge therein (or both) shall not relieve the carrier from 
    liability for such payments; and
        (3) such other provisions as the Secretary, by regulation, may 
    require.

(c) Cancellation of insurance contracts

    No policy or contract of insurance issued by a carrier to comply 
with the requirements of clause (2) of subsection (a) of this subsection 
\1\ shall be canceled prior to the date specified in such policy or 
contract for its expiration until at least thirty days have elapsed 
after notice of cancellation has been sent by registered or certified 
mail to the Secretary and to the operator at his last known place of 
business.
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should be ``section''.
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(d) Penalties for failure to secure payment of benefits

    (1) Any employer required to secure the payment of benefits under 
this section who fails to secure such benefits shall be subject to a 
civil penalty assessed by the Secretary of not more than $1,000 for each 
day during which such failure occurs. In any case where such employer is 
a corporation, the president, secretary, and treasurer thereof also 
shall be severally liable to such civil penalty as provided in this 
subsection for the failure of such corporation to secure the payment of 
benefits. Such president, secretary, and treasurer shall be severally 
personally liable, jointly with such corporation, for any benefit which 
may accrue under this subchapter in respect to any disability which may 
occur to any employee of such corporation while it shall so fail to 
secure the payment of benefits as required by this section.
    (2) Any employer of a miner who knowingly transfers, sells, 
encumbers, assigns, or in any manner disposes of, conceals, secrets,\2\ 
or destroys any property belonging to such employer, after any miner 
employed by such employer has filed a claim under this subchapter, and 
with intent to avoid the payment of benefits under this subchapter to 
such miner or his or her dependents, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor 
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more 
than $1,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. In 
any case where such employer is a corporation, the president, secretary, 
and treasurer thereof also shall be severally liable for such penalty of 
imprisonment as well as jointly liable with such corporation for such 
fine.
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    \2\ So in original. Probably should be ``secretes,''.
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    (3) This subsection shall not affect any other liability of the 
employer under this part.

(Pub. L. 91-173, title IV, Sec. 423, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 797; Pub. 
L. 92-303, Sec. 3(b), May 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 153; Pub. L. 95-239, 
Sec. 8, Mar. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 100.)


                               Amendments

    1978--Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95-239 added subsec. (d).
    1972--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92-303 substituted ``a coal mine'' for 
``an underground coal mine''.


                    Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 95-239 effective Mar. 1, 1978, see section 
20(a) of Pub. L. 95-239, set out as a note under section 901 of this 
title.


                    Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 92-303 effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 
3(c) of Pub. L. 92-303, set out as a note under section 901 of this 
title.