(820 ILCS 148/5)
    Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:
    "Civil air patrol leave" means leave requested by an employee who is a member of the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force commonly known as the Civil Air Patrol.
    "Employee" means any person who may be permitted, required, or directed by an employer in consideration of direct or indirect gain or profit to engage in any employment. "Employee" does include an independent contractor. "Employee" includes an employee of a covered employer who has been employed by the same employer for at least 12 months and has been employed for at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12-month period immediately preceding the commencement of the leave.
    "Employee benefits" means all benefits, other than salary and wages, provided or made available to employees by an employer and includes group life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, and pensions, regardless of whether benefits are provided by a policy or practice of an employer.
    "Employer" means:
        (1) any person, partnership, corporation,
    
association, or other business entity; and
        (2) the State of Illinois, municipalities, and other
    
units of local government.
(Source: P.A. 95-763, eff. 1-1-09.)