39-71-2104. Renewal of application. An employer, so long as that employer continues to employ and continues to be bound by compensation plan No. 1, shall annually renew the application to be permitted to continue to make payments directly to employees for the next year. The department may, with the concurrence of the Montana self-insurers guaranty fund, renew the application from year to year. The annual renewal application must be in the form, for the period, and subject to the time limits prescribed by the department.