Full Text of SB2234 102nd General Assembly
SB2234 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
| | 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022 SB2234 Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: |
| 820 ILCS 305/4b | | 820 ILCS 305/12 | from Ch. 48, par. 138.12 | 820 ILCS 305/19 | from Ch. 48, par. 138.19 |
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Amends the Workers' Compensation Act. Authorizes the recording of an employee's medical examination with the consent of the employee and the physician. Provides for the use of the recording as evidence.
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| | A BILL FOR |
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| 1 | | AN ACT concerning employment.
| 2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| 3 | | represented in the General Assembly:
| 4 | | Section 5. The Workers' Compensation Act is amended by | 5 | | changing Sections 4b, 12, and 19 as follows: | 6 | | (820 ILCS 305/4b) | 7 | | Sec. 4b. Collective bargaining pilot program. | 8 | | (a) The Director of the Department of Labor shall adopt a | 9 | | selection process to designate 2 international, national, or | 10 | | statewide organizations made up of affiliates who are the | 11 | | exclusive representatives of construction employer employees | 12 | | recognized or certified pursuant to the National Labor | 13 | | Relations Act
to
participate in the collective bargaining | 14 | | pilot program provided for in this Section. | 15 | | (a-5) For purposes of this Section, the term "construction | 16 | | employer" means any person or legal entity or group of persons | 17 | | or legal entities engaging in or planning to engage in any | 18 | | constructing, altering, reconstructing, repairing, | 19 | | rehabilitating, refinishing, refurbishing, remodeling, | 20 | | remediating, renovating, custom fabricating, maintaining, | 21 | | landscaping, improving, wrecking, painting, decorating, | 22 | | demolishing, and adding to or subtracting from any building, | 23 | | structure, airport facility, highway, roadway, street, alley, |
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| 1 | | bridge, sewer, drain, ditch, sewage disposal plant, water | 2 | | works, parking facility, railroad, excavation or other | 3 | | project, structure, development, real property or improvement, | 4 | | or to do any part thereof, whether or not the performance of | 5 | | the work herein described involves the addition to, or | 6 | | fabrication into, any project, structure, development, real | 7 | | property or improvement herein described, and shall also | 8 | | include any moving of construction-related materials on the | 9 | | job site or to or from the job site. | 10 | | For purposes of this Section, "labor organization" means | 11 | | an affiliate of an international, national, or statewide | 12 | | organization that has been selected by the Department of Labor | 13 | | to participate in the collective bargaining pilot program as | 14 | | provided for in this Section. | 15 | | (b) Upon appropriate filing, the Commission and the courts | 16 | | of this State shall recognize as valid and binding any | 17 | | provision in a collective bargaining agreement between any | 18 | | construction employer or group of construction employers and a | 19 | | labor organization, which contains certain obligations and | 20 | | procedures relating to workers' compensation. This agreement | 21 | | must be limited to, but need not include, all of the following: | 22 | | (1) An alternative dispute resolution ("ADR") system | 23 | | to supplement, modify or replace the procedural or dispute | 24 | | resolution provisions of this Act. The system may include | 25 | | mediation, arbitration, or other dispute resolution | 26 | | proceedings, the results of which shall be final and |
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| 1 | | binding upon the parties; | 2 | | (2) An agreed list of medical treatment providers that | 3 | | may be the exclusive source of all medical and related | 4 | | treatment provided under this Act; | 5 | | (3) The use of a limited list of impartial physicians | 6 | | to conduct independent medical examinations that may be | 7 | | openly recorded for later use as evidence so long as the | 8 | | employee and physician both consent ; | 9 | | (4) The creation of a light duty, modified job, or | 10 | | return to work program; | 11 | | (5) The use of a limited list of individuals and | 12 | | companies for the establishment of vocational | 13 | | rehabilitation or retraining programs that may be the | 14 | | exclusive source of rehabilitation and retraining services | 15 | | provided under this Act; or | 16 | | (6) The establishment of joint labor management safety | 17 | | committees and safety procedures. | 18 | | (c) Void agreements. Nothing in this Section shall be | 19 | | construed to authorize any provision in a collective | 20 | | bargaining agreement that diminishes or increases a | 21 | | construction employer's entitlements under this Act or an | 22 | | employee's entitlement to benefits as otherwise set forth in | 23 | | this Act. For the purposes of this Section, the procedural | 24 | | rights and dispute resolution agreements under subparagraphs | 25 | | (1) through (6) of subsection (b) of this Section are not | 26 | | agreements which diminish or increase a construction |
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| 1 | | employer's entitlements under this Act or an employee's | 2 | | entitlement to benefits under this Act. Any agreement that | 3 | | diminishes or increases a construction employer's entitlements | 4 | | under this Act or an employee's entitlement to benefits as set | 5 | | forth in this Act is null and void. Nothing in this Section | 6 | | shall be construed as creating a mandatory subject of | 7 | | bargaining. | 8 | | (d) Form of agreement. The agreement reached herein shall | 9 | | demonstrate that: | 10 | | (1) The construction employer or group of construction | 11 | | employers and the recognized or certified exclusive | 12 | | bargaining representative have entered into a binding | 13 | | collective bargaining agreement adopting the ADR plan for | 14 | | a period of no less than 2 years; | 15 | | (2) Contractual agreements have been reached with the | 16 | | construction employer's workers' compensation carrier, | 17 | | group self-insurance fund, and any excess carriers | 18 | | relating to the ADR plan; | 19 | | (3) Procedures have been established by which claims | 20 | | for benefits by employees will be lodged, administered, | 21 | | and decided while affording procedural due process; | 22 | | (4) The plan has designated forms upon which claims | 23 | | for benefits shall be made; | 24 | | (5) The system and means by which the construction | 25 | | employer's obligation to furnish medical services and | 26 | | vocational rehabilitation and retraining benefits shall be |
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| 1 | | fulfilled and provider selected; | 2 | | (6) The method by which mediators or arbitrators are | 3 | | to be selected. | 4 | | (e) Filing. A copy of the agreement and a statement | 5 | | identifying the parties to the agreement shall be filed with | 6 | | the Commission. Within 21 days of receipt of an agreement, the | 7 | | Chairman shall review the agreement for compliance with this | 8 | | Section and notify the parties of its acceptance or notify the | 9 | | parties of any additional information required or any | 10 | | recommended modification that would bring the agreement into | 11 | | compliance. If no additional information or modification is | 12 | | required, the agreement shall be valid and binding from the | 13 | | time the parties receive acceptance of the agreement from the | 14 | | Chairman. Upon receipt of any requested information or | 15 | | modification, the Chairman shall notify the parties within 21 | 16 | | days whether the agreement is in compliance with this Section. | 17 | | All rejections made by the Chairman under this subsection | 18 | | shall be subject to review by the courts of this State, said | 19 | | review to be taken in the same manner and within the same time | 20 | | as provided by Section 19 of this Act for review of awards and | 21 | | decisions of the Commission. Upon the review, the Circuit | 22 | | Court shall have power to review all questions of fact as well | 23 | | as of law. | 24 | | (f) Notice to insurance carrier. If the construction | 25 | | employer is insured under this Act, it shall provide notice to | 26 | | and obtain consent from its insurance carrier, in the manner |
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| 1 | | provided in the insurance contract, of its intent to enter | 2 | | into an agreement as provided in this Section with its | 3 | | employees. | 4 | | (g) Employees' claims for workers' compensation benefits. | 5 | | (1) Claims for benefits shall be filed with the ADR | 6 | | plan administrator within those periods of limitation | 7 | | prescribed by this Act. Within 10 days of the filing of a | 8 | | claim, the ADR plan administrator shall serve a copy of | 9 | | the claim application upon the Commission, which shall | 10 | | maintain records of all ADR claims and resolutions. | 11 | | (2) Settlements of claims presented to the ADR plan | 12 | | administrator shall be evidenced by a settlement | 13 | | agreement. All such settlements shall be filed with the | 14 | | ADR plan administrator, who within 10 days shall forward a | 15 | | copy to the Commission for recording. | 16 | | (3) Upon assignment of claims, unless settled, | 17 | | mediators and arbitrators shall render final orders | 18 | | containing essential findings of fact, rulings of law and | 19 | | referring to other matters as pertinent to the questions | 20 | | at issue. The ADR plan administrator shall maintain a | 21 | | record of the proceedings. | 22 | | (h) Reporting requirements. Annually, each ADR plan | 23 | | administrator shall submit a report to the Commission | 24 | | containing the following information: | 25 | | (1) The number of employees within the ADR program; | 26 | | (2) The number of occurrences of work-related injuries |
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| 1 | | or diseases; | 2 | | (3) The breakdown within the ADR program of injuries | 3 | | and diseases treated; | 4 | | (4) The total amount of disability benefits paid | 5 | | within the ADR program; | 6 | | (5) The total medical treatment cost paid within the | 7 | | ADR program; | 8 | | (6) The number of claims filed within the ADR program; | 9 | | and | 10 | | (7) The disposition of all claims.
| 11 | | (Source: P.A. 97-18, eff. 6-28-11.)
| 12 | | (820 ILCS 305/12) (from Ch. 48, par. 138.12)
| 13 | | Sec. 12. An employee entitled to receive disability | 14 | | payments shall be
required, if requested by the employer, to | 15 | | submit himself, at the
expense of the employer, for | 16 | | examination to a duly qualified medical
practitioner or | 17 | | surgeon selected by the employer, at any time and place
| 18 | | reasonably convenient for the employee, either within or | 19 | | without the
State of Illinois, for the purpose of determining | 20 | | the nature, extent and
probable duration of the injury | 21 | | received by the employee, and for the
purpose of ascertaining | 22 | | the amount of compensation which may be due the
employee from | 23 | | time to time for disability according to the provisions of
| 24 | | this Act. The examination may be recorded with the consent of | 25 | | the employee and the practitioner for later use as evidence. |
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| 1 | | An employee may also be required to submit himself for | 2 | | examination
by medical experts under subsection (c) of Section | 3 | | 19.
| 4 | | An employer requesting such an examination, of an employee | 5 | | residing
within the State of Illinois, shall deliver to the | 6 | | employee with the notice of the time and place of examination | 7 | | sufficient money to defray the necessary expense of
travel by | 8 | | the most convenient means to and from the place of
| 9 | | examination, and the cost of meals necessary during the trip, | 10 | | and if the
examination or travel to and from the place of | 11 | | examination causes any
loss of working time on the part of the | 12 | | employee, the employer shall
reimburse him for such loss of | 13 | | wages upon the basis of his average daily
wage. Such | 14 | | examination shall be made in the presence of a duly qualified
| 15 | | medical practitioner or surgeon provided and paid for by the | 16 | | employee,
if such employee so desires.
| 17 | | In all cases where the examination is made by a surgeon | 18 | | engaged by
the employer, and the injured employee has no | 19 | | surgeon present at such
examination, it shall be the duty of | 20 | | the surgeon making the examination
at the instance of the | 21 | | employer to deliver to the injured employee, or
his | 22 | | representative, a statement in writing of the condition and | 23 | | extent
of the injury to the same extent that said surgeon | 24 | | reports to the
employer and the same shall be an exact copy of | 25 | | that furnished to the
employer, said copy to be furnished the | 26 | | employee, or his representative
as soon as practicable but not |
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| 1 | | later than 48 hours before the time the
case is set for | 2 | | hearing. Such delivery shall be made in person either to
the | 3 | | employee or his representative, or by registered mail to | 4 | | either, and
the receipt of either shall be proof of such | 5 | | delivery. If such surgeon
refuses to furnish the employee with | 6 | | such statement to the same extent
as that furnished the | 7 | | employer said surgeon shall not be permitted to
testify at the | 8 | | hearing next following said examination.
| 9 | | If the employee refuses so to submit himself to | 10 | | examination or
unnecessarily obstructs the same, his right to | 11 | | compensation payments
shall be temporarily suspended until | 12 | | such examination shall have taken
place, and no compensation | 13 | | shall be payable under this Act for such
period.
| 14 | | It shall be the duty of surgeons treating an injured | 15 | | employee who is
likely to die, and treating him at the instance | 16 | | of the employer, to have
called in another surgeon to be | 17 | | designated and paid for by either the
injured employee or by | 18 | | the person or persons who would become his
beneficiary or | 19 | | beneficiaries, to make an examination before the death of
such | 20 | | injured employee.
| 21 | | In all cases where the examination is made by a surgeon | 22 | | engaged by
the injured employee, and the employer has no | 23 | | surgeon present at such
examination, it shall be the duty of | 24 | | the surgeon making the examination
at the instance of the | 25 | | employee, to deliver to the employer, or his
representative, a | 26 | | statement in writing of the condition and extent of
the injury |
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| 1 | | to the same extent that said surgeon reports to the employee
| 2 | | and the same shall be an exact copy of that furnished to the | 3 | | employee,
said copy to be furnished the employer, or his | 4 | | representative, as soon
as practicable but not later than 48 | 5 | | hours before the time the case is
set for hearing. Such | 6 | | delivery shall be made in person either to the
employer, or his | 7 | | representative, or by registered mail to either, and
the | 8 | | receipt of either shall be proof of such delivery. If such | 9 | | surgeon
refuses to furnish the employer with such statement to | 10 | | the same extent
as that furnished the employee, said surgeon | 11 | | shall not be permitted to
testify at the hearing next | 12 | | following said examination.
| 13 | | (Source: P.A. 94-277, eff. 7-20-05.)
| 14 | | (820 ILCS 305/19) (from Ch. 48, par. 138.19)
| 15 | | Sec. 19. Any disputed questions of law or fact shall be | 16 | | determined
as herein provided.
| 17 | | (a) It shall be the duty of the Commission upon | 18 | | notification that
the parties have failed to reach an | 19 | | agreement, to designate an Arbitrator.
| 20 | | 1. Whenever any claimant misconceives his remedy and | 21 | | files an
application for adjustment of claim under this | 22 | | Act and it is
subsequently discovered, at any time before | 23 | | final disposition of such
cause, that the claim for | 24 | | disability or death which was the basis for
such | 25 | | application should properly have been made under the |
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| 1 | | Workers'
Occupational Diseases Act, then the provisions of | 2 | | Section 19, paragraph
(a-1) of the Workers' Occupational | 3 | | Diseases Act having reference to such
application shall | 4 | | apply.
| 5 | | 2. Whenever any claimant misconceives his remedy and | 6 | | files an
application for adjustment of claim under the | 7 | | Workers' Occupational
Diseases Act and it is subsequently | 8 | | discovered, at any time before final
disposition of such | 9 | | cause that the claim for injury or death which was
the | 10 | | basis for such application should properly have been made | 11 | | under this
Act, then the application so filed under the | 12 | | Workers' Occupational
Diseases Act may be amended in form, | 13 | | substance or both to assert claim
for such disability or | 14 | | death under this Act and it shall be deemed to
have been so | 15 | | filed as amended on the date of the original filing
| 16 | | thereof, and such compensation may be awarded as is | 17 | | warranted by the
whole evidence pursuant to this Act. When | 18 | | such amendment is submitted,
further or additional | 19 | | evidence may be heard by the Arbitrator or
Commission when | 20 | | deemed necessary. Nothing in this Section contained
shall | 21 | | be construed to be or permit a waiver of any provisions of | 22 | | this
Act with reference to notice but notice if given | 23 | | shall be deemed to be a
notice under the provisions of this | 24 | | Act if given within the time
required herein.
| 25 | | (b) The Arbitrator shall make such inquiries and | 26 | | investigations as he or
they shall deem necessary and may |
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| 1 | | examine and inspect all books, papers,
records, places, or | 2 | | premises relating to the questions in dispute and hear
such | 3 | | proper evidence as the parties may submit.
| 4 | | The hearings before the Arbitrator shall be held in the | 5 | | vicinity where
the injury occurred after 10 days' notice of | 6 | | the time and place of such
hearing shall have been given to | 7 | | each of the parties or their attorneys
of record.
| 8 | | The Arbitrator may find that the disabling condition is | 9 | | temporary and has
not yet reached a permanent condition and | 10 | | may order the payment of
compensation up to the date of the | 11 | | hearing, which award shall be reviewable
and enforceable in | 12 | | the same manner as other awards, and in no instance be a
bar to | 13 | | a further hearing and determination of a further amount of | 14 | | temporary
total compensation or of compensation for permanent | 15 | | disability, but shall
be conclusive as to all other questions | 16 | | except the nature and extent of said
disability.
| 17 | | The decision of the Arbitrator shall be filed with the | 18 | | Commission which
Commission shall immediately send to each | 19 | | party or his attorney a copy of
such decision, together with a | 20 | | notification of the time when it was filed.
As of the effective | 21 | | date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, all | 22 | | decisions of the Arbitrator shall set forth
in writing | 23 | | findings of fact and conclusions of law, separately stated, if | 24 | | requested by either party.
Unless a petition for review is | 25 | | filed by either party within 30 days after
the receipt by such | 26 | | party of the copy of the decision and notification of
time when |
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| 1 | | filed, and unless such party petitioning for a review shall
| 2 | | within 35 days after the receipt by him of the copy of the | 3 | | decision, file
with the Commission either an agreed statement | 4 | | of the facts appearing upon
the hearing before the Arbitrator, | 5 | | or if such
party shall so elect a correct transcript of | 6 | | evidence of the proceedings
at such hearings, then the | 7 | | decision shall become the decision of the
Commission and in | 8 | | the absence of fraud shall be conclusive.
The Petition for | 9 | | Review shall contain a statement of the petitioning party's
| 10 | | specific exceptions to the decision of the arbitrator. The | 11 | | jurisdiction
of the Commission to review the decision of the | 12 | | arbitrator shall not be
limited to the exceptions stated in | 13 | | the Petition for Review.
The Commission, or any member | 14 | | thereof, may grant further time not exceeding
30 days, in | 15 | | which to file such agreed statement or transcript of
evidence. | 16 | | Such agreed statement of facts or correct transcript of
| 17 | | evidence, as the case may be, shall be authenticated by the | 18 | | signatures
of the parties or their attorneys, and in the event | 19 | | they do not agree as
to the correctness of the transcript of | 20 | | evidence it shall be authenticated
by the signature of the | 21 | | Arbitrator designated by the Commission.
| 22 | | Whether the employee is working or not, if the employee is | 23 | | not receiving or has not received medical, surgical, or | 24 | | hospital services or other services or compensation as | 25 | | provided in paragraph (a) of Section 8, or compensation as | 26 | | provided in paragraph (b) of Section 8, the employee may at any |
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| 1 | | time petition for an expedited hearing by an Arbitrator on the | 2 | | issue of whether or not he or she is entitled to receive | 3 | | payment of the services or compensation. Provided the employer | 4 | | continues to pay compensation pursuant to paragraph (b) of | 5 | | Section 8, the employer may at any time petition for an | 6 | | expedited hearing on the issue of whether or not the employee | 7 | | is entitled to receive medical, surgical, or hospital services | 8 | | or other services or compensation as provided in paragraph (a) | 9 | | of Section 8, or compensation as provided in paragraph (b) of | 10 | | Section 8. When an employer has petitioned for an expedited | 11 | | hearing, the employer shall continue to pay compensation as | 12 | | provided in paragraph (b) of Section 8 unless the arbitrator | 13 | | renders a decision that the employee is not entitled to the | 14 | | benefits that are the subject of the expedited hearing or | 15 | | unless the employee's treating physician has released the | 16 | | employee to return to work at his or her regular job with the | 17 | | employer or the employee actually returns to work at any other | 18 | | job. If the arbitrator renders a decision that the employee is | 19 | | not entitled to the benefits that are the subject of the | 20 | | expedited hearing, a petition for review filed by the employee | 21 | | shall receive the same priority as if the employee had filed a | 22 | | petition for an expedited hearing by an Arbitrator. Neither | 23 | | party shall be entitled to an expedited hearing when the | 24 | | employee has returned to work and the sole issue in dispute | 25 | | amounts to less than 12 weeks of unpaid compensation pursuant | 26 | | to paragraph (b) of Section 8. |
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| 1 | | Expedited hearings shall have priority over all other | 2 | | petitions and shall be heard by the Arbitrator and Commission | 3 | | with all convenient speed. Any party requesting an expedited | 4 | | hearing shall give notice of a request for an expedited | 5 | | hearing under this paragraph. A copy of the Application for | 6 | | Adjustment of Claim shall be attached to the notice. The | 7 | | Commission shall adopt rules and procedures under which the | 8 | | final decision of the Commission under this paragraph is filed | 9 | | not later than 180 days from the date that the Petition for | 10 | | Review is filed with the Commission. | 11 | | Where 2 or more insurance carriers, private self-insureds, | 12 | | or a group workers' compensation pool under Article V 3/4 of | 13 | | the Illinois Insurance Code dispute coverage for the same | 14 | | injury, any such insurance carrier, private self-insured, or | 15 | | group workers' compensation pool may request an expedited | 16 | | hearing pursuant to this paragraph to determine the issue of | 17 | | coverage, provided coverage is the only issue in dispute and | 18 | | all other issues are stipulated and agreed to and further | 19 | | provided that all compensation benefits including medical | 20 | | benefits pursuant to Section 8(a) continue to be paid to or on | 21 | | behalf of petitioner. Any insurance carrier, private | 22 | | self-insured, or group workers' compensation pool that is | 23 | | determined to be liable for coverage for the injury in issue | 24 | | shall reimburse any insurance carrier, private self-insured, | 25 | | or group workers' compensation pool that has paid benefits to | 26 | | or on behalf of petitioner for the injury.
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| 1 | | (b-1) If the employee is not receiving medical, surgical | 2 | | or hospital
services as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 8 | 3 | | or compensation as
provided in paragraph (b) of Section 8, the | 4 | | employee, in accordance with
Commission Rules, may file a | 5 | | petition for an emergency hearing by an
Arbitrator on the | 6 | | issue of whether or not he is entitled to receive payment
of | 7 | | such compensation or services as provided therein. Such | 8 | | petition shall
have priority over all other petitions and | 9 | | shall be heard by the Arbitrator
and Commission with all | 10 | | convenient speed.
| 11 | | Such petition shall contain the following information and | 12 | | shall be served
on the employer at least 15 days before it is | 13 | | filed:
| 14 | | (i) the date and approximate time of accident;
| 15 | | (ii) the approximate location of the accident;
| 16 | | (iii) a description of the accident;
| 17 | | (iv) the nature of the injury incurred by the | 18 | | employee;
| 19 | | (v) the identity of the person, if known, to whom the | 20 | | accident was
reported and the date on which it was | 21 | | reported;
| 22 | | (vi) the name and title of the person, if known, | 23 | | representing the
employer with whom the employee conferred | 24 | | in any effort to obtain
compensation pursuant to paragraph | 25 | | (b) of Section 8 of this Act or medical,
surgical or | 26 | | hospital services pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 8 |
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| 1 | | of
this Act and the date of such conference;
| 2 | | (vii) a statement that the employer has refused to pay | 3 | | compensation
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 8 of | 4 | | this Act or for medical, surgical
or hospital services | 5 | | pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 8 of this Act;
| 6 | | (viii) the name and address, if known, of each witness | 7 | | to the accident
and of each other person upon whom the | 8 | | employee will rely to support his
allegations;
| 9 | | (ix) the dates of treatment related to the accident by | 10 | | medical
practitioners, and the names and addresses of such | 11 | | practitioners, including
the dates of treatment related to | 12 | | the accident at any hospitals and the
names and addresses | 13 | | of such hospitals, and a signed authorization
permitting | 14 | | the employer to examine all medical records of all | 15 | | practitioners
and hospitals named pursuant to this | 16 | | paragraph;
| 17 | | (x) a copy of a signed report by a medical | 18 | | practitioner, relating to the
employee's current inability | 19 | | to return to work because of the injuries
incurred as a | 20 | | result of the accident or such other documents or | 21 | | affidavits
which show that the employee is entitled to | 22 | | receive compensation pursuant
to paragraph (b) of Section | 23 | | 8 of this Act or medical, surgical or hospital
services | 24 | | pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 8 of this Act. Such | 25 | | reports,
documents or affidavits shall state, if possible, | 26 | | the history of the
accident given by the employee, and |
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| 1 | | describe the injury and medical
diagnosis, the medical | 2 | | services for such injury which the employee has
received | 3 | | and is receiving, the physical activities which the | 4 | | employee
cannot currently perform as a result of any | 5 | | impairment or disability due to
such injury, and the | 6 | | prognosis for recovery;
| 7 | | (xi) complete copies of any reports, records, | 8 | | documents and affidavits
in the possession of the employee | 9 | | on which the employee will rely to
support his | 10 | | allegations, provided that the employer shall pay the
| 11 | | reasonable cost of reproduction thereof;
| 12 | | (xii) a list of any reports, records, documents and | 13 | | affidavits which
the employee has demanded by subpoena and | 14 | | on which he intends to
rely to support his allegations;
| 15 | | (xiii) a certification signed by the employee or his | 16 | | representative that
the employer has received the petition | 17 | | with the required information 15
days before filing.
| 18 | | Fifteen days after receipt by the employer of the petition | 19 | | with the
required information the employee may file said | 20 | | petition and required
information and shall serve notice of | 21 | | the filing upon the employer. The
employer may file a motion | 22 | | addressed to the sufficiency of the petition.
If an objection | 23 | | has been filed to the sufficiency of the petition, the
| 24 | | arbitrator shall rule on the objection within 2 working days. | 25 | | If such an
objection is filed, the time for filing the final | 26 | | decision of the
Commission as provided in this paragraph shall |
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| 1 | | be tolled until the
arbitrator has determined that the | 2 | | petition is sufficient.
| 3 | | The employer shall, within 15 days after receipt of the | 4 | | notice that such
petition is filed, file with the Commission | 5 | | and serve on the employee or
his representative a written | 6 | | response to each claim set forth in the
petition, including | 7 | | the legal and factual basis for each disputed
allegation and | 8 | | the following information: (i) complete copies of any
reports, | 9 | | records, documents and affidavits in the possession of the
| 10 | | employer on which the employer intends to rely in support of | 11 | | his response,
(ii) a list of any reports, records, documents | 12 | | and affidavits which the
employer has demanded by subpoena and | 13 | | on which the employer intends to rely
in support of his | 14 | | response, (iii) the name and address of each witness on
whom | 15 | | the employer will rely to support his response, and (iv) the | 16 | | names and
addresses of any medical practitioners selected by | 17 | | the employer pursuant to
Section 12 of this Act and the time | 18 | | and place of any examination scheduled
to be made pursuant to | 19 | | such Section.
| 20 | | Any employer who does not timely file and serve a written | 21 | | response
without good cause may not introduce any evidence to | 22 | | dispute any claim of
the employee but may cross examine the | 23 | | employee or any witness brought by
the employee and otherwise | 24 | | be heard.
| 25 | | No document or other evidence not previously identified by | 26 | | either party
with the petition or written response, or by any |
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| 1 | | other means before the
hearing, may be introduced into | 2 | | evidence without good cause.
If, at the hearing, material | 3 | | information is discovered which was
not previously disclosed, | 4 | | the Arbitrator may extend the time for closing
proof on the | 5 | | motion of a party for a reasonable period of time which may
be | 6 | | more than 30 days. No evidence may be introduced pursuant
to | 7 | | this paragraph as to permanent disability. No award may be | 8 | | entered for
permanent disability pursuant to this paragraph. | 9 | | Either party may introduce
into evidence the testimony taken | 10 | | by deposition of any medical practitioner.
| 11 | | The Commission shall adopt rules, regulations and | 12 | | procedures whereby the
final decision of the Commission is | 13 | | filed not later than 90 days from the
date the petition for | 14 | | review is filed but in no event later than 180 days from
the | 15 | | date the petition for an emergency hearing is filed with the | 16 | | Illinois Workers' Compensation
Commission.
| 17 | | All service required pursuant to this paragraph (b-1) must | 18 | | be by personal
service or by certified mail and with evidence | 19 | | of receipt. In addition for
the purposes of this paragraph, | 20 | | all service on the employer must be at the
premises where the | 21 | | accident occurred if the premises are owned or operated
by the | 22 | | employer. Otherwise service must be at the employee's | 23 | | principal
place of employment by the employer. If service on | 24 | | the employer is not
possible at either of the above, then | 25 | | service shall be at the employer's
principal place of | 26 | | business. After initial service in each case, service
shall be |
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| 1 | | made on the employer's attorney or designated representative.
| 2 | | (c)(1) At a reasonable time in advance of and in | 3 | | connection with the
hearing under Section 19(e) or 19(h), the | 4 | | Commission may on its own motion
order an impartial physical | 5 | | or mental examination of a petitioner whose
mental or physical | 6 | | condition is in issue, when in the Commission's
discretion it | 7 | | appears that such an examination will materially aid in the
| 8 | | just determination of the case. The examination shall be made | 9 | | by a member
or members of a panel of physicians chosen for | 10 | | their special qualifications
by the Illinois State Medical | 11 | | Society. The Commission shall establish
procedures by which a | 12 | | physician shall be selected from such list.
| 13 | | (2) Should the Commission at any time during the hearing | 14 | | find that
compelling considerations make it advisable to have | 15 | | an examination and
report at that time, the commission may in | 16 | | its discretion so order.
| 17 | | (3) A copy of the report of examination shall be given to | 18 | | the Commission
and to the attorneys for the parties.
| 19 | | (3.5) The examination may be recorded with the consent of | 20 | | the employee and the examining physicians, and any such | 21 | | recording shall be given to the Commission and to the | 22 | | attorneys for the parties. | 23 | | (4) Either party or the Commission may call the examining | 24 | | physician or
physicians to testify. Any physician so called | 25 | | shall be subject to
cross-examination.
| 26 | | (5) The examination shall be made, and the physician or |
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| 1 | | physicians, if
called, shall testify, without cost to the | 2 | | parties. The Commission shall
determine the compensation and | 3 | | the pay of the physician or physicians. The
compensation for | 4 | | this service shall not exceed the usual and customary amount
| 5 | | for such service.
| 6 | | (6) The fees and payment thereof of all attorneys and | 7 | | physicians for
services authorized by the Commission under | 8 | | this Act shall, upon request
of either the employer or the | 9 | | employee or the beneficiary affected, be
subject to the review | 10 | | and decision of the Commission.
| 11 | | (d) If any employee shall persist in insanitary or | 12 | | injurious
practices which tend to either imperil or retard his | 13 | | recovery or shall
refuse to submit to such medical, surgical, | 14 | | or hospital treatment as is
reasonably essential to promote | 15 | | his recovery, the Commission may, in its
discretion, reduce or | 16 | | suspend the compensation of any such injured
employee. | 17 | | However, when an employer and employee so agree in writing,
| 18 | | the foregoing provision shall not be construed to authorize | 19 | | the
reduction or suspension of compensation of an employee who | 20 | | is relying in
good faith, on treatment by prayer or spiritual | 21 | | means alone, in
accordance with the tenets and practice of a | 22 | | recognized church or
religious denomination, by a duly | 23 | | accredited practitioner thereof.
| 24 | | (e) This paragraph shall apply to all hearings before the | 25 | | Commission.
Such hearings may be held in its office or | 26 | | elsewhere as the Commission
may deem advisable. The taking of |
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| 1 | | testimony on such hearings may be had
before any member of the | 2 | | Commission. If a petition for review and agreed
statement of | 3 | | facts or transcript of evidence is filed, as provided herein,
| 4 | | the Commission shall promptly review the decision of the | 5 | | Arbitrator and all
questions of law or fact which appear from | 6 | | the statement of facts or
transcript of evidence.
| 7 | | In all cases in which the hearing before the arbitrator is | 8 | | held after
December 18, 1989, no additional evidence shall be | 9 | | introduced by the
parties before the Commission on review of | 10 | | the decision of the Arbitrator.
In reviewing decisions of an | 11 | | arbitrator the Commission shall award such
temporary | 12 | | compensation, permanent compensation and other payments as are
| 13 | | due under this Act. The Commission shall file in its office its | 14 | | decision
thereon, and shall immediately send to each party or | 15 | | his attorney a copy of
such decision and a notification of the | 16 | | time when it was filed. Decisions
shall be filed within 60 days | 17 | | after the Statement of Exceptions and
Supporting Brief and | 18 | | Response thereto are required to be filed or oral
argument | 19 | | whichever is later.
| 20 | | In the event either party requests oral argument, such | 21 | | argument shall be
had before a panel of 3 members of the | 22 | | Commission (or before all available
members pursuant to the | 23 | | determination of 7 members of the Commission that
such | 24 | | argument be held before all available members of the | 25 | | Commission)
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the | 26 | | Commission. A panel of 3
members, which shall be comprised of |
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| 1 | | not more than one representative
citizen of the employing | 2 | | class and not more than one representative from a labor | 3 | | organization recognized under the National Labor Relations Act | 4 | | or an attorney who has represented labor organizations or has | 5 | | represented employees in workers' compensation cases, shall | 6 | | hear the argument; provided that if all the
issues in dispute | 7 | | are solely the nature and extent of the permanent partial
| 8 | | disability, if any, a majority of the panel may deny the | 9 | | request for such
argument and such argument shall not be held; | 10 | | and provided further that 7
members of the Commission may | 11 | | determine that the argument be held before
all available | 12 | | members of the Commission. A decision of the Commission
shall | 13 | | be approved by a majority of Commissioners present at such | 14 | | hearing if
any; provided, if no such hearing is held, a | 15 | | decision of the Commission
shall be approved by a majority of a | 16 | | panel of 3 members of the Commission
as described in this | 17 | | Section. The Commission shall give 10 days' notice to
the | 18 | | parties or their attorneys of the time and place of such taking | 19 | | of
testimony and of such argument.
| 20 | | In any case the Commission in its decision may find | 21 | | specially
upon any question or questions of law or fact which | 22 | | shall be submitted
in writing by either party whether ultimate | 23 | | or otherwise;
provided that on issues other than nature and | 24 | | extent of the disability,
if any, the Commission in its | 25 | | decision shall find specially upon any
question or questions | 26 | | of law or fact, whether ultimate or otherwise,
which are |
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|
| 1 | | submitted in writing by either party; provided further that
| 2 | | not more than 5 such questions may be submitted by either | 3 | | party. Any
party may, within 20 days after receipt of notice of | 4 | | the Commission's
decision, or within such further time, not | 5 | | exceeding 30 days, as the
Commission may grant, file with the | 6 | | Commission either an agreed
statement of the facts appearing | 7 | | upon the hearing, or, if such party
shall so elect, a correct | 8 | | transcript of evidence of the additional
proceedings presented | 9 | | before the Commission, in which report the party
may embody a | 10 | | correct statement of such other proceedings in the case as
| 11 | | such party may desire to have reviewed, such statement of | 12 | | facts or
transcript of evidence to be authenticated by the | 13 | | signature of the
parties or their attorneys, and in the event | 14 | | that they do not agree,
then the authentication of such | 15 | | transcript of evidence shall be by the
signature of any member | 16 | | of the Commission.
| 17 | | If a reporter does not for any reason furnish a transcript | 18 | | of the
proceedings before the Arbitrator in any case for use on | 19 | | a hearing for
review before the Commission, within the | 20 | | limitations of time as fixed in
this Section, the Commission | 21 | | may, in its discretion, order a trial de
novo before the | 22 | | Commission in such case upon application of either
party. The | 23 | | applications for adjustment of claim and other documents in
| 24 | | the nature of pleadings filed by either party, together with | 25 | | the
decisions of the Arbitrator and of the Commission and the | 26 | | statement of
facts or transcript of evidence hereinbefore |
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| 1 | | provided for in paragraphs
(b) and (c) shall be the record of | 2 | | the proceedings of the Commission,
and shall be subject to | 3 | | review as hereinafter provided.
| 4 | | At the request of either party or on its own motion, the | 5 | | Commission shall
set forth in writing the reasons for the | 6 | | decision, including findings of
fact and conclusions of law | 7 | | separately stated. The Commission shall by rule
adopt a format | 8 | | for written decisions for the Commission and arbitrators.
The | 9 | | written decisions shall be concise and shall succinctly state | 10 | | the facts
and reasons for the decision. The Commission may | 11 | | adopt in whole or in part,
the decision of the arbitrator as | 12 | | the decision of the Commission. When the
Commission does so | 13 | | adopt the decision of the arbitrator, it shall do so by
order. | 14 | | Whenever the Commission adopts part of the arbitrator's | 15 | | decision,
but not all, it shall include in the order the | 16 | | reasons for not adopting all
of the arbitrator's decision. | 17 | | When a majority of a panel, after
deliberation, has arrived at | 18 | | its decision, the decision shall be filed as
provided in this | 19 | | Section without unnecessary delay, and without regard to
the | 20 | | fact that a member of the panel has expressed an intention to | 21 | | dissent.
Any member of the panel may file a dissent. Any | 22 | | dissent shall be filed no
later than 10 days after the decision | 23 | | of the majority has been filed.
| 24 | | Decisions rendered by the Commission and dissents, if any, | 25 | | shall be
published together by the Commission. The conclusions | 26 | | of law set out in
such decisions shall be regarded as |
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| 1 | | precedents by arbitrators for the purpose
of achieving a more | 2 | | uniform administration of this Act.
| 3 | | (f) The decision of the Commission acting within its | 4 | | powers,
according to the provisions of paragraph (e) of this | 5 | | Section shall, in
the absence of fraud, be conclusive unless | 6 | | reviewed as in this paragraph
hereinafter provided. However, | 7 | | the Arbitrator or the Commission may on
his or its own motion, | 8 | | or on the motion of either party, correct any
clerical error or | 9 | | errors in computation within 15 days after the date of
receipt | 10 | | of any award by such Arbitrator or any decision on review of | 11 | | the
Commission and shall have the power to recall the original | 12 | | award on
arbitration or decision on review, and issue in lieu | 13 | | thereof such
corrected award or decision. Where such | 14 | | correction is made the time for
review herein specified shall | 15 | | begin to run from the date of
the receipt of the corrected | 16 | | award or decision.
| 17 | | (1) Except in cases of claims against the State of | 18 | | Illinois other than those claims under Section 18.1, in
| 19 | | which case the decision of the Commission shall not be | 20 | | subject to
judicial review, the Circuit Court of the | 21 | | county where any of the
parties defendant may be found, or | 22 | | if none of the parties defendant can
be found in this State | 23 | | then the Circuit Court of the county where the
accident | 24 | | occurred, shall by summons to the Commission have
power to | 25 | | review all questions of law and fact presented by such | 26 | | record.
|
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| 1 | | A proceeding for review shall be commenced within 20 | 2 | | days of
the receipt of notice of the decision of the | 3 | | Commission. The summons shall
be issued by the clerk of | 4 | | such court upon written request returnable on a
designated | 5 | | return day, not less than 10 or more than 60 days from the | 6 | | date
of issuance thereof, and the written request shall | 7 | | contain the last known
address of other parties in | 8 | | interest and their attorneys of record who are
to be | 9 | | served by summons. Service upon any member of the | 10 | | Commission or the
Secretary or the Assistant Secretary | 11 | | thereof shall be service upon the
Commission, and service | 12 | | upon other parties in interest and their attorneys
of | 13 | | record shall be by summons, and such service shall be made | 14 | | upon the
Commission and other parties in interest by | 15 | | mailing notices of the
commencement of the proceedings and | 16 | | the return day of the summons to the
office of the | 17 | | Commission and to the last known place of residence of | 18 | | other
parties in interest or their attorney or attorneys | 19 | | of record. The clerk of
the court issuing the summons | 20 | | shall on the day of issue mail notice of the
commencement | 21 | | of the proceedings which shall be done by mailing a copy of
| 22 | | the summons to the office of the Commission, and a copy of | 23 | | the summons to
the other parties in interest or their | 24 | | attorney or attorneys of record and
the clerk of the court | 25 | | shall make certificate that he has so sent said
notices in | 26 | | pursuance of this Section, which shall be evidence of |
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| 1 | | service on
the Commission and other parties in interest.
| 2 | | The Commission shall not be required to certify the | 3 | | record of their
proceedings to the Circuit Court, unless | 4 | | the party commencing the
proceedings for review in the | 5 | | Circuit Court as above provided, shall file with the | 6 | | Commission notice of intent to file for review in Circuit | 7 | | Court. It shall be the duty
of the Commission upon such | 8 | | filing of notice of intent to file for review in the | 9 | | Circuit Court to prepare a true and correct
copy of such | 10 | | testimony and a true and correct copy of all other matters
| 11 | | contained in such record and certified to by the Secretary | 12 | | or Assistant
Secretary thereof. The changes made to this | 13 | | subdivision (f)(1) by this amendatory Act of the 98th | 14 | | General Assembly apply to any Commission decision entered | 15 | | after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the | 16 | | 98th General Assembly.
| 17 | | No request for a summons
may be filed and no summons | 18 | | shall issue unless the party seeking to review
the | 19 | | decision of the Commission shall exhibit to the clerk of | 20 | | the Circuit
Court proof of filing with the Commission of | 21 | | the notice of the intent to file for review in the Circuit | 22 | | Court or an affidavit
of the attorney setting forth that | 23 | | notice of intent to file for review in the Circuit Court | 24 | | has been given in writing to the Secretary or Assistant | 25 | | Secretary of the Commission.
| 26 | | (2) No such summons shall issue unless the one against |
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| 1 | | whom the
Commission shall have rendered an award for the | 2 | | payment of money shall upon
the filing of his written | 3 | | request for such summons file with the clerk of
the court a | 4 | | bond conditioned that if he shall not successfully
| 5 | | prosecute the review, he will pay the award and the costs | 6 | | of the
proceedings in the courts. The amount of the bond | 7 | | shall be fixed by any
member of the Commission and the | 8 | | surety or sureties of the bond shall be
approved by the | 9 | | clerk of the court. The acceptance of the bond by the
clerk | 10 | | of the court shall constitute evidence of his approval of | 11 | | the bond.
| 12 | | Every county, city, town, township, incorporated | 13 | | village, school
district, body politic or municipal | 14 | | corporation against whom the
Commission shall have | 15 | | rendered an award for the payment of money shall
not be | 16 | | required to file a bond to secure the payment of the award | 17 | | and
the costs of the proceedings in the court to authorize | 18 | | the court to
issue such summons.
| 19 | | The court may confirm or set aside the decision of the | 20 | | Commission. If
the decision is set aside and the facts | 21 | | found in the proceedings before
the Commission are | 22 | | sufficient, the court may enter such decision as is
| 23 | | justified by law, or may remand the cause to the | 24 | | Commission for further
proceedings and may state the | 25 | | questions requiring further hearing, and
give such other | 26 | | instructions as may be proper. Appeals shall be taken
to |
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| 1 | | the Appellate Court in accordance
with Supreme Court Rules | 2 | | 22(g) and 303. Appeals
shall be taken from the Appellate
| 3 | | Court to the Supreme Court in accordance with Supreme | 4 | | Court Rule 315.
| 5 | | It shall be the duty of the clerk of any court | 6 | | rendering a decision
affecting or affirming an award of | 7 | | the Commission to promptly furnish
the Commission with a | 8 | | copy of such decision, without charge.
| 9 | | The decision of a majority of the members of the panel | 10 | | of the Commission,
shall be considered the decision of the | 11 | | Commission.
| 12 | | (g) Except in the case of a claim against the State of | 13 | | Illinois,
either party may present a certified copy of the | 14 | | award of the
Arbitrator, or a certified copy of the decision of | 15 | | the Commission when
the same has become final, when no | 16 | | proceedings for review are pending,
providing for the payment | 17 | | of compensation according to this Act, to the
Circuit Court of | 18 | | the county in which such accident occurred or either of
the | 19 | | parties are residents, whereupon the court shall enter a | 20 | | judgment
in accordance therewith. In a case where the employer | 21 | | refuses to pay
compensation according to such final award or | 22 | | such final decision upon
which such judgment is entered the | 23 | | court shall in entering judgment
thereon, tax as costs against | 24 | | him the reasonable costs and attorney fees
in the arbitration | 25 | | proceedings and in the court entering the judgment
for the | 26 | | person in whose favor the judgment is entered, which judgment
|
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| 1 | | and costs taxed as therein provided shall, until and unless | 2 | | set aside,
have the same effect as though duly entered in an | 3 | | action duly tried and
determined by the court, and shall with | 4 | | like effect, be entered and
docketed. The Circuit Court shall | 5 | | have power at any time upon
application to make any such | 6 | | judgment conform to any modification
required by any | 7 | | subsequent decision of the Supreme Court upon appeal, or
as | 8 | | the result of any subsequent proceedings for review, as | 9 | | provided in
this Act.
| 10 | | Judgment shall not be entered until 15 days' notice of the | 11 | | time and
place of the application for the entry of judgment | 12 | | shall be served upon
the employer by filing such notice with | 13 | | the Commission, which Commission
shall, in case it has on file | 14 | | the address of the employer or the name
and address of its | 15 | | agent upon whom notices may be served, immediately
send a copy | 16 | | of the notice to the employer or such designated agent.
| 17 | | (h) An agreement or award under this Act providing for | 18 | | compensation
in installments, may at any time within 18 months | 19 | | after such agreement
or award be reviewed by the Commission at | 20 | | the request of either the
employer or the employee, on the | 21 | | ground that the disability of the
employee has subsequently | 22 | | recurred, increased, diminished or ended.
| 23 | | However, as to accidents occurring subsequent to July 1, | 24 | | 1955, which
are covered by any agreement or award under this | 25 | | Act providing for
compensation in installments made as a | 26 | | result of such accident, such
agreement or award may at any |
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| 1 | | time within 30 months, or 60 months in the case of an award | 2 | | under Section 8(d)1, after such agreement
or award be reviewed | 3 | | by the Commission at the request of either the
employer or the | 4 | | employee on the ground that the disability of the
employee has | 5 | | subsequently recurred, increased, diminished or ended.
| 6 | | On such review, compensation payments may be | 7 | | re-established,
increased, diminished or ended. The Commission | 8 | | shall give 15 days'
notice to the parties of the hearing for | 9 | | review. Any employee, upon any
petition for such review being | 10 | | filed by the employer, shall be entitled
to one day's notice | 11 | | for each 100 miles necessary to be traveled by him in
attending | 12 | | the hearing of the Commission upon the petition, and 3 days in
| 13 | | addition thereto. Such employee shall, at the discretion of | 14 | | the
Commission, also be entitled to 5 cents per mile | 15 | | necessarily traveled by
him within the State of Illinois in | 16 | | attending such hearing, not to
exceed a distance of 300 miles, | 17 | | to be taxed by the Commission as costs
and deposited with the | 18 | | petition of the employer.
| 19 | | When compensation which is payable in accordance with an | 20 | | award or
settlement contract approved by the Commission, is | 21 | | ordered paid in a
lump sum by the Commission, no review shall | 22 | | be had as in this paragraph
mentioned.
| 23 | | (i) Each party, upon taking any proceedings or steps | 24 | | whatsoever
before any Arbitrator, Commission or court, shall | 25 | | file with the Commission
his address, or the name and address | 26 | | of any agent upon whom all notices to
be given to such party |
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| 1 | | shall be served, either personally or by registered
mail, | 2 | | addressed to such party or agent at the last address so filed | 3 | | with
the Commission. In the event such party has not filed his | 4 | | address, or the
name and address of an agent as above provided, | 5 | | service of any notice may
be had by filing such notice with the | 6 | | Commission.
| 7 | | (j) Whenever in any proceeding testimony has been taken or | 8 | | a final
decision has been rendered and after the taking of such | 9 | | testimony or
after such decision has become final, the injured | 10 | | employee dies, then in
any subsequent proceedings brought by | 11 | | the personal representative or
beneficiaries of the deceased | 12 | | employee, such testimony in the former
proceeding may be | 13 | | introduced with the same force and effect as though
the | 14 | | witness having so testified were present in person in such
| 15 | | subsequent proceedings and such final decision, if any, shall | 16 | | be taken
as final adjudication of any of the issues which are | 17 | | the same in both
proceedings.
| 18 | | (k) In case where there has been any unreasonable or | 19 | | vexatious delay
of payment or intentional underpayment of | 20 | | compensation, or proceedings
have been instituted or carried | 21 | | on by the one liable to pay the
compensation, which do not | 22 | | present a real controversy, but are merely
frivolous or for | 23 | | delay, then the Commission may award compensation
additional | 24 | | to that otherwise payable under this Act equal to 50% of the
| 25 | | amount payable at the time of such award. Failure to pay | 26 | | compensation
in accordance with the provisions of Section 8, |
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| 1 | | paragraph (b) of this
Act, shall be considered unreasonable | 2 | | delay.
| 3 | | When determining whether this subsection (k) shall apply, | 4 | | the
Commission shall consider whether an Arbitrator has | 5 | | determined
that the claim is not compensable or whether the | 6 | | employer has
made payments under Section 8(j). | 7 | | (l) If the employee has made written demand for payment of
| 8 | | benefits under Section 8(a) or Section 8(b), the employer | 9 | | shall
have 14 days after receipt of the demand to set forth in
| 10 | | writing the reason for the delay. In the case of demand for
| 11 | | payment of medical benefits under Section 8(a), the time for
| 12 | | the employer to respond shall not commence until the | 13 | | expiration
of the allotted 30 days specified under Section | 14 | | 8.2(d). In case
the employer or his or her insurance carrier | 15 | | shall without good and
just cause fail, neglect, refuse, or | 16 | | unreasonably delay the
payment of benefits under Section 8(a) | 17 | | or Section 8(b), the
Arbitrator or the Commission shall allow | 18 | | to the employee
additional compensation in the sum of $30 per | 19 | | day for each day
that the benefits under Section 8(a) or | 20 | | Section 8(b) have been
so withheld or refused, not to exceed | 21 | | $10,000.
A delay in payment of 14 days or more
shall create a | 22 | | rebuttable presumption of unreasonable delay.
| 23 | | (m) If the commission finds that an accidental injury was | 24 | | directly
and proximately caused by the employer's wilful | 25 | | violation of a health
and safety standard under the Health and | 26 | | Safety Act or the Occupational Safety and Health Act in force |
| | | SB2234 | - 36 - | LRB102 15981 JLS 21351 b |
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| 1 | | at the time of the
accident, the arbitrator or the Commission | 2 | | shall allow to the injured
employee or his dependents, as the | 3 | | case may be, additional compensation
equal to 25% of the | 4 | | amount which otherwise would be payable under the
provisions | 5 | | of this Act exclusive of this paragraph. The additional
| 6 | | compensation herein provided shall be allowed by an | 7 | | appropriate increase
in the applicable weekly compensation | 8 | | rate.
| 9 | | (n) After June 30, 1984, decisions of the Illinois | 10 | | Workers' Compensation Commission
reviewing an award of an | 11 | | arbitrator of the Commission shall draw interest
at a rate | 12 | | equal to the yield on indebtedness issued by the United States
| 13 | | Government with a 26-week maturity next previously auctioned | 14 | | on the day on
which the decision is filed. Said rate of | 15 | | interest shall be set forth in
the Arbitrator's Decision. | 16 | | Interest shall be drawn from the date of the
arbitrator's | 17 | | award on all accrued compensation due the employee through the
| 18 | | day prior to the date of payments. However, when an employee | 19 | | appeals an
award of an Arbitrator or the Commission, and the | 20 | | appeal results in no
change or a decrease in the award, | 21 | | interest shall not further accrue from
the date of such | 22 | | appeal.
| 23 | | The employer or his insurance carrier may tender the | 24 | | payments due under
the award to stop the further accrual of | 25 | | interest on such award
notwithstanding the prosecution by | 26 | | either party of review, certiorari,
appeal to the Supreme |
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| 1 | | Court or other steps to reverse, vacate or modify
the award.
| 2 | | (o) By the 15th day of each month each insurer providing | 3 | | coverage for
losses under this Act shall notify each insured | 4 | | employer of any compensable
claim incurred during the | 5 | | preceding month and the amounts paid or reserved
on the claim | 6 | | including a summary of the claim and a brief statement of the
| 7 | | reasons for compensability. A cumulative report of all claims | 8 | | incurred
during a calendar year or continued from the previous | 9 | | year shall be
furnished to the insured employer by the insurer | 10 | | within 30 days after the
end of that calendar year.
| 11 | | The insured employer may challenge, in proceeding before | 12 | | the Commission,
payments made by the insurer without | 13 | | arbitration and payments
made after a case is determined to be | 14 | | noncompensable. If the Commission
finds that the case was not | 15 | | compensable, the insurer shall purge its records
as to that | 16 | | employer of any loss or expense associated with the claim, | 17 | | reimburse
the employer for attorneys' fees arising from the | 18 | | challenge and for any
payment required of the employer to the | 19 | | Rate Adjustment Fund or the
Second Injury Fund, and may not | 20 | | reflect the loss or expense for rate making
purposes. The | 21 | | employee shall not be required to refund the challenged
| 22 | | payment. The decision of the Commission may be reviewed in the | 23 | | same manner
as in arbitrated cases. No challenge may be | 24 | | initiated under this paragraph
more than 3 years after the | 25 | | payment is made. An employer may waive the
right of challenge | 26 | | under this paragraph on a case by case basis.
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| 1 | | (p) After filing an application for adjustment of claim | 2 | | but prior to
the hearing on arbitration the parties may | 3 | | voluntarily agree to submit such
application for adjustment of | 4 | | claim for decision by an arbitrator under
this subsection (p) | 5 | | where such application for adjustment of claim raises
only a | 6 | | dispute over temporary total disability, permanent partial
| 7 | | disability or medical expenses. Such agreement shall be in | 8 | | writing in such
form as provided by the Commission. | 9 | | Applications for adjustment of claim
submitted for decision by | 10 | | an arbitrator under this subsection (p) shall
proceed | 11 | | according to rule as established by the Commission. The | 12 | | Commission
shall promulgate rules including, but not limited | 13 | | to, rules to ensure that
the parties are adequately informed | 14 | | of their rights under this subsection
(p) and of the voluntary | 15 | | nature of proceedings under this subsection (p).
The findings | 16 | | of fact made by an arbitrator acting within his or her powers
| 17 | | under this subsection (p) in the absence of fraud shall be | 18 | | conclusive.
However, the arbitrator may on his own motion, or | 19 | | the motion of either
party, correct any clerical errors or | 20 | | errors in computation within 15 days
after the date of receipt | 21 | | of such award of the arbitrator
and shall have the power to | 22 | | recall the original award on arbitration, and
issue in lieu | 23 | | thereof such corrected award.
The decision of the arbitrator | 24 | | under this subsection (p) shall be
considered the decision of | 25 | | the Commission and proceedings for review of
questions of law | 26 | | arising from the decision may be commenced by either party
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| 1 | | pursuant to subsection (f) of Section 19. The Advisory Board | 2 | | established
under Section 13.1 shall compile a list of | 3 | | certified Commission
arbitrators, each of whom shall be | 4 | | approved by at least 7 members of the
Advisory Board. The | 5 | | chairman shall select 5 persons from such list to
serve as | 6 | | arbitrators under this subsection (p). By agreement, the | 7 | | parties
shall select one arbitrator from among the 5 persons | 8 | | selected by the
chairman except that if the parties do not | 9 | | agree on an arbitrator from
among the 5 persons, the parties | 10 | | may, by agreement, select an arbitrator of
the American | 11 | | Arbitration Association, whose fee shall be paid by the State
| 12 | | in accordance with rules promulgated by the Commission. | 13 | | Arbitration under
this subsection (p) shall be voluntary.
| 14 | | (Source: P.A. 101-384, eff. 1-1-20 .)
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