Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 83.djvu/825

 83 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 91-173-DEC. 30, 1969

797

(f) Any claim for benefits under this section shall be filed within three years of the discovery of total disability due to pneumoconiosis or, in the case of death due to pneumoconiosis, the date of such death. (g) The amount of benefits payable under this section shall be reduced, on a monthly or other appropriate basis, by the amount of any compensation received under or pursuant to any Federal or State workmen's compensation law because of death or disability due to pneumoconiosis. (h) The regulations of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare promulgated under section 411 of this title shall also be applicable to claims under this section. The Secretary of Labor shall by regulation establish standards, which may include appropriate presumptions, for determining whether pneumoconiosis arose out of employment in a particular undergroinid coal mine or mines. The Secretary may also, by regulation, establish standards for apportioning liability for benefits under this subsection among more than one operator, where such apportionment is appropriate. (i)(1) During any period in which this section is applicable with respect to a coal mine an operator of such mine who, after the date of enactment of this title, acquired such mine or substantially all the assets thereof from a person (hereinafter referred to in this paragraph as a "prior operator") who was an operator of such mine on or after the operative date of this title shall be liable for and shall, in accordance with section 423 of this part, secure the payment of all benefits which would have been payable by the prior operator under this section with respect to miners previously employed in such mine if the acquisition had not occurred and the prior operator had continued to operate such mine. (2) Nothing in this subsection shall relieve any prior operator of any liability under this section. SEC. 423. (a) During any period in which a State workmen's com- vil'ions!""^ ^'^°" pensation law is not included on the list published by the Secretary under section 421(b) each operator of an undergroinid coal mine in such State shall secure the payment of benefits for which he is liable under section 422 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) I n 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 422, not\yithstanfling 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) No policy or contract of insurance issued by a carrier to comply with the requirements of clause (2) of subsection (a) of this subsection shall be canceled prior to the date specified in such policy or contract for its expiration until at least thirty days have elapsed after

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