39-71-2611. Duties, liabilities, and rights of fund. (1) The fund shall assume the workers' compensation obligations of a private self-insurer that come due after the private self-insurer has been determined to be an insolvent self-insurer.

(2) The fund is not liable for the payment of any penalties or interest assessed for any act or omission of a person acting on behalf of the fund.

(3) The fund is a party in interest in all proceedings involving workers' compensation claims against an insolvent private self-insurer whose workers' compensation obligations have been paid or assumed by the fund. The fund has the same rights and defenses as the insolvent private self-insurer, including but not limited to all of the following:

(a) to appear and deny, defend, and appeal a claim; and

(b) to receive notice of, investigate, adjust, compromise, settle, and pay a claim.

(4) The fund shall concur in department decisions relating to allowing an employer to self-insure.