The secretary of transportation is authorized to pay from the highway fund losses incurred by department of transportation employees resulting from the theft of the employee’s tools or equipment when taken from a department facility or vehicle. Payment shall be allowed only in circumstances where the employee’s supervisor or department policy requires the employee to furnish the tools or equipment as a condition of employment. No payment shall be allowed where the secretary finds that the employee’s negligence was the primary cause of the loss or where covered by insurance, except payment can be made to cover any deductible. This section is separate and independent from any other authority the secretary may have to pay losses or claims.