HB2715 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 07080 JLS 27164 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB2715

Introduced , by Rep. Thaddeus Jones

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

820 ILCS 305/29.3 new

Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Provides that employers may file safety and return to work programs with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Authorizes the Commission to certify the programs upon review for certain minimum requirements. Provides that the Director of Insurance shall direct any workers' compensation rate setting advisory organization to recalculate rates with respect to employers that file safety and return to work programs. Provides for the Director of Insurance to waive the Workers' Compensation Commission Operations Fund fee with respect to self-insured employers that file the plans.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning employment.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Workers' Compensation Act is amended by adding Section 29.3 as follows:

(820 ILCS 305/29.3 new)

Sec. 29.3. Safety programs and return to work programs; recalculation of premiums and waiver of self-insurers fee.

An employer may file with the Commission a workers' compensation safety program. An employer may file with the Commission a workers' compensation return to work program. The Commission may certify any such safety program as a bona fide safety program after reviewing the program for the following minimum requirements: adequate safety training for employees; establishment of joint employer-employee safety committees; use of safety devices; and consultation with safety organizations. The Commission may certify any such return to work program as a bona fide return to work program after reviewing the program for the following minimum requirements: light duty or restricted duty work; leave of absence policy; and full duty return to work policy.

The following paragraphs apply to all employers that have received certification from the Commission of a bona fide safety program or a bona fide return to work program.

On the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, the Director of Insurance shall immediately direct in writing any workers' compensation rate setting advisory organization to recalculate workers' compensation advisory premium rates and assigned risk pool premium rates for any employer complying with this Section so that those premium rates incorporate and take into account the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly and to publish such rates on or before 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly.

On the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, the Director of Insurance shall immediately direct in writing that the fee under Section 4d of this Act is waived as to any self-insured employer complying with this Section to incorporate and take into account the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly and to publish such waiver on or before 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly.