19629.5. (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 80, Sec. 138.)

(a) Notwithstanding Section 3700 of the Labor Code, a vendor licensed by the department pursuant to this article shall operate a facility with workers’ compensation insurance provided by the Business Enterprises Program through the Business Enterprises Program group policy. The department may secure payment of compensation through a self-insurance fund or insurance against liability. This subdivision does not apply to a vending facility established pursuant to Section 395.33 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) The department may further establish additional self-insurance or insurance against operational or financial risks as it determines necessary to support the vendors’ operations licensed by the department as provided in this article, subject to Section 11007.7 of the Government Code and paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 19629 of this code.

(c) Vendors licensed by the department as provided in this article and their employees are not employees of the state within the meaning of Section 18526 or 18529 of the Government Code or Section 2750 of the Labor Code.