(1) Surety for public entities must be provided on a department developed form consistent with WAC 296-15-121(2). The original will be kept by the department. Required surety must cover at a minimum one hundred twenty-five percent of the expected workers' compensation claim costs occurring in the next calendar year or five hundred thousand dollars, whichever is higher. The surety required may be increased up to the total outstanding liabilities associated with claims occurring during the time an employer functions as a self-insurer based on the credit rating of the employer.

(2) Public entities must provide a public entity surety certification which will provide an estimate of the next calendar year's expected claim costs and the current estimate of the outstanding claim liabilities.

(3) Credit rating evaluation for financial monitoring.

(a) For entities with acceptable credit ratings above B+/B1, the surety requirement will be one hundred twenty-five percent of the next calendar year's expected claim costs or five hundred thousand dollars, whichever is higher.

(b) For entities with credit ratings at or below B+/B1, the surety requirement will be the highest of the above amount, but not less than fifty percent of the current estimate of outstanding claim liabilities.

(c) For entities with credit ratings at or below CCC+/Caa1, the surety requirement will be the highest of the above amount, but not less than one hundred percent of the current estimate of outstanding claim liabilities.

(d) In addition to the actions and other relevant information utilized in (a) through (c) of this subsection, the department, with the director's discretion, may consider general economic conditions to evaluate whether a self-insurer's certification may be maintained or withdrawn.