44-503. Subcontracting. (a) Where any person (in this section referred to as principal) undertakes to execute any work which is a part of the principal's trade or business or which the principal has contracted to perform and contracts with any other person (in this section referred to as the contractor) for the execution by or under the contractor of the whole or any part of the work undertaken by the principal, the principal shall be liable to pay to any worker employed in the execution of the work any compensation under the workers compensation act which the principal would have been liable to pay if that worker had been immediately employed by the principal; and where compensation is claimed from or proceedings are taken against the principal, then in the application of the workers compensation act, references to the principal shall be substituted for references to the employer, except that the amount of compensation shall be calculated with reference to the earnings of the worker under the employer by whom the worker is immediately employed. For the purposes of this subsection, a worker shall not include an individual who is a self-employed subcontractor.
(b) Where the principal is liable to pay compensation under this section, the principal shall be entitled to indemnity from any person who would have been liable to pay compensation to the worker independently of this section, and shall have a cause of action under the workers compensation act for indemnification.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a worker from recovering compensation under the workers compensation act from the contractor instead of the principal.
(d) This section shall not apply to any case where the accident occurred elsewhere than on, in or about the premises on which the principal has undertaken to execute work or which are otherwise under the principal's control or management, or on, in or about the execution of such work under the principal's control or management.
(e) A principal contractor, when sued by a worker of a subcontractor, shall have the right to implead the subcontractor.
(f) The principal contractor who pays compensation to a worker of a subcontractor shall have the right to recover over against the subcontractor in the action under the workers compensation act if the subcontractor has been impleaded.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in any case where the contractor (1) is an employer who employs employees in an employment to which the act is applicable, or has filed a written statement of election with the director to accept the provisions of the workers compensation act pursuant to subsection (b) of K.S.A. 44-505, and amendments thereto, to the extent of such election, and (2) has secured the payment of compensation as required by K.S.A. 44-532, and amendments thereto, for all persons for whom the contractor is required to or elects to secure such compensation, as evidenced by a current certificate of workers compensation insurance, by a certification from the director that the contractor is currently qualified as a self-insurer under that statute, or by a certification from the commissioner of insurance that the contractor is maintaining a membership in a qualified group-funded workers compensation pool, then, the principal shall not be liable for any compensation under this or any other section of the workers compensation act for any person for which the contractor has secured the payment of compensation which the principal would otherwise be liable for under this section and such person shall have no right to file a claim against or otherwise proceed against the principal for compensation under this or any other section of the workers compensation act. In the event that the payment of compensation is not secured or is otherwise unavailable or in effect, then the principal shall be liable for the payment of compensation. No insurance company shall charge a principal a premium for workers compensation insurance for any liability for which the contractor has secured the payment of compensation.
History: L. 1927, ch. 232, § 3; L. 1974, ch. 203, § 2; L. 1993, ch. 286, § 25; L. 1994, ch. 288, § 1; L. 1996, ch. 1, § 1; L. 1998, ch. 75, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 149, § 4; July 1.
Structure Kansas Statutes
Chapter 44 - Labor And Industries
Article 5 - Workers Compensation
44-501b Legislative intent; employer obligation, burden of proof; liability.
44-501c Public service benefits protection act.
44-502 Reservation of penalties.
44-503a Multiple employment; apportionment of liability.
44-503c Employment status of an owner-operator of a motor vehicle; definitions.
44-505b County as self-insurer; establishment of reserve fund; retransfers.
44-505c Local political and taxing subdivision; payment of workmen's compensation coverage.
44-505f City as self-insurer; establishment of reserve fund; retransfers.
44-506 Application of act to certain businesses or employments, lands and premises.
44-509 Incapacitated workman or dependent; exercise of rights; limitation of actions.
44-510c Compensation for permanent total and temporary total disabilities.
44-510d Compensation for certain permanent partial disabilities; computation thereof; schedule.
44-510f Employer's maximum liability for disability compensation; credit for unearned wages.
44-510j Medical benefits; fee disputes; utilization and peer review.
44-510l Warning notice to injured employee.
44-511 Definitions; average weekly wage; volunteers; state's average weekly wage.
44-512 Time and manner of compensation payments.
44-512b Failure to pay compensation prior to award without just cause; interest, penalty.
44-513a Minors entitled to compensation; payment.
44-513b Same; act supplemental.
44-514 Payments not assignable; exception, orders for support.
44-516 Medical examination by neutral health care provider.
44-518 Refusal of medical examination; effect.
44-519 Certificate of health care provider as evidence.
44-525 Form of findings and awards; effective date.
44-526 Filing agreements, awards, etc.
44-528 Review and modification of awards; reinstatement; cancellation; effective date.
44-529 Judgment on agreement or awards.
44-530 Staying proceedings upon an award.
44-531 Redemption of liability; lump-sum payment of award; exception.
44-534 Proceedings; time limitations; electronic filing system authorized.
44-535 When the right to compensation accrues.
44-536a Signing of pleadings, motions and other documents; liability for frivolous filings.
44-542a Election by individual employer, partner or self-employed person.
44-543 Election by certain employees.
44-545 Defenses available in certain cases.
44-550 Records of proceedings, documents; custody and preservation.
44-550b Records open to public inspection, exceptions.
44-552 Record of hearing; certified shorthand reporter; transcript; costs.
44-555 Reporter's fees, assessment.
44-556a Transfer of appeals due to constitutional defect.
44-559 Insurance against liability; form and contents of policy.
44-562 Reports to insurance commissioner; inspection.
44-566 Workers compensation fund to facilitate employment of handicapped workers; definitions.
44-569a Same; employer or insurance carrier reimbursed from fund, when.
44-572 Same; review; modification or cancellation of awards.
44-573 Rules and regulations; filing.
44-574 Construing and citing workers compensation laws; severability.
44-578 Same; administrative rules and regulations.
44-579 Same; copies of accident reports to secretary of administration.
44-580 Same; construction of 44-575 to 44-580.
44-581 Group-funded workers compensation pools; requirements.
44-582 Same; certificate of authority; application; commissioner's review of surplus funds.
44-583 Same; irrevocable consent; service of process on commissioner of insurance.
44-584 Same; certificate of authority, renewal, suspension, revocation; examinations.
44-585 Same; premiums; contributions; deposit of premiums; refunds.
44-586 Same; premiums; use; investments.
44-588 Same; premium tax; payment.
44-589 Same; assessments; subject to article 24 of chapter 40 of Kansas Statutes Annotated.
44-590 Same; new members; application; termination.
44-591 Same; board of trustees; duties.
44-592 Same; licensing of persons soliciting workers compensation insurance.
44-593 Reorganization of pool agreement under 12-2216 et seq.
44-594 Same; confidentiality of certain financial information.
44-5,102 Same; distribution upon notice of injury; preparation and dissemination.
44-5,117 Mediation conferences.
44-5,121 Same; cause of action to recover economic losses.
44-5,123 Same; immunity from civil liability for reporting information in good faith.
44-5,124 Assistant attorney general; appointment within division of workers compensation; duties.