Program to contract for employment of off-duty deputies for security services.

(1) A sheriff may operate or administer a program to contract for the employment of sheriff’s deputies, during off-duty hours, for public or private security services.

(2)(a) Any such public or private employer of a deputy sheriff shall be responsible for the acts or omissions of the deputy sheriff while performing services for that employer while off duty, including workers’ compensation benefits.

(b) However, for the workers’ compensation purposes of this section:

1. A deputy sheriff so employed who sustains an injury while enforcing the criminal, traffic, or penal laws of this state shall be regarded as working on duty.

2. The term “enforcing the criminal, traffic, or penal laws of this state” shall be interpreted to include, but is not limited to, providing security, patrol, or traffic direction for a private or public employer.

3. A sheriff may include the sheriff’s proportionate costs of workers’ compensation premiums for the off-duty deputy sheriffs providing such services.

(3) Deputy sheriffs employed during off-duty hours pursuant to the provisions of this section are exempt from the licensure requirements of chapter 493 for persons who watch or guard, patrol services, or private investigators.