(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any 2 or more municipal corporations, by intergovernmental contract, may form a group self-insurance pool to provide for joint or cooperative action relative to their financial and administrative resources for the purpose of providing to the participating municipal corporations risk management and coverage for pool members and employees of pool members, for acts or omissions arising out of the scope of their employment, including any or all of the following:

    (a) Casualty insurance, including general and professional liability coverage.

    (b) Property insurance, including marine insurance and inland navigation and transportation insurance coverage.

    (c) Automobile insurance, including motor vehicle liability insurance coverage and security for motor vehicles owned or operated, as required by section 3101 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101, and protection against other liability and loss associated with the ownership of motor vehicles.

    (d) Surety and fidelity insurance coverage.

    (e) Umbrella and excess insurance coverages.

    (2) A group self-insurance pool may not provide for hospital, medical, surgical, or dental benefits to the employees of the member municipalities in the pool except as follows:

    (a) If the municipal corporation is providing hospital, medical, surgical, or dental benefits as permitted under the public employees health benefit act.

    (b) If the municipal corporation has formed a multiple employer welfare arrangement under chapter 70 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.7001 to 500.7090, for hospital, medical, surgical, or dental benefits.

    (c) If the hospital, medical, surgical, or dental benefits arise from the obligations and responsibilities of the pool in providing automobile insurance coverage, including motor vehicle liability insurance coverage and security for motor vehicles owned or operated, as required by section 3101 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101, and protection against other liability and loss associated with the ownership of motor vehicles.

    (3) A group self-insurance pool may assume, cede, and sell risk for coverages set forth in subsection (1). If a group self-insurance pool obtains reinsurance, the reinsurance contract shall be made available to the commissioner upon request. If the reinsurance contract is not available to the group self-insurance pool, the group self-insurance pool shall provide the commissioner with written documentation of coverage as is requested by the commissioner.

    (4) A group self-insurance pool, for the purposes of carrying on the business of the group self-insurance pool whether or not a body corporate, shall have the power to sue and be sued; to make contracts; to hold and dispose of real and personal property; and to borrow money, contract debts, and pledge assets in the name of the group self-insurance pool.

    (5) In addition to any other powers granted by this act, the power to enter into intergovernmental contracts under this section specifically includes the power to establish the pool as a separate legal or administrative entity for purposes of effectuating group self-insurance pool agreements.

    (6) The legislature hereby finds and determines that insurance protection is essential to the proper functioning of municipal corporations; that the resources of municipal corporations are burdened by the securing of insurance protection through standards carriers; that proper risk management requires spreading risk to minimize fluctuation in insurance needs; and that, therefore, all contributions of financial and administrative resources made by a municipal corporation pursuant to an intergovernmental contract authorized under this act are made for a public and governmental purpose, and that those contributions benefit each contributing municipal corporation.

    (7) Two or more municipal corporations shall not form a group self-insurance pool to provide the coverages described in subsection (1) other than pursuant to section 5 to 12b.