102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3837

 

Introduced 2/22/2021, by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for certain death benefits, the death of any policeman or fireman as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder shall be rebuttably presumed to have been contracted while in the performance of an act of duty and he or she shall be rebuttably presumed to have been fatally injured while in active service. Provides that any active policeman or fireman who has completed 7 or more years of service and is unable to perform his or her duties in the department by reason of a disabling post-traumatic stress disorder that develops or manifests itself while the policeman or fireman is in the service of the department shall be entitled to receive an occupational disease disability benefit. Amends the Workers' Compensation Act and the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. Provides that a person employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT), or paramedic may recover for post-traumatic stress disorder. Provides that any condition or impairment of health of an employee employed as a police officer, as defined in the Downstate Police Article of the Illinois Pension Code, that results directly or indirectly from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting in any disability to the employee shall be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and in the course of the employee's police employment and shall be rebuttably presumed to be causally connected to the hazards or exposures of the employment. Makes other changes. Amends the State Mandate Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.


LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
PENSION IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3837LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1    AN ACT concerning employment.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Pension Code is amended by
5changing Sections 5-144, 5-154.1, 6-140, and 6-151.1 as
6follows:
 
7    (40 ILCS 5/5-144)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 5-144)
8    Sec. 5-144. Death from injury in the performance of acts
9of duty; compensation annuity and supplemental annuity.
10    (a) Beginning January 1, 1986, and without regard to
11whether or not the annuity in question began before that date,
12if the annuity for the widow of a policeman whose death, on or
13after January 1, 1940, results from injury incurred in the
14performance of an act or acts of duty, is not equal to the sum
15hereinafter stated, "compensation annuity" equal to the
16difference between the annuity and an amount equal to 75% of
17the policeman's salary attached to the position he held by
18certification and appointment as a result of competitive civil
19service examination that would ordinarily have been paid to
20him as though he were in active discharge of his duties shall
21be payable to the widow until the policeman, had he lived,
22would have attained age 63. The total amount of the widow's
23annuity and children's awards payable to the family of such

 

 

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1policeman shall not exceed the amounts stated in Section
25-152.
3    For the purposes of this Section only, the death of any
4policeman as a result of the exposure to and contraction of
5COVID-19, as evidenced by either (i) a confirmed positive
6laboratory test for COVID-19 or COVID-19 antibodies or (ii) a
7confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed medical
8professional, shall be rebuttably presumed to have been
9contracted while in the performance of an act or acts of duty
10and the policeman shall be rebuttably presumed to have been
11fatally injured while in active service. The presumption shall
12apply to any policeman who was exposed to and contracted
13COVID-19 on or after March 9, 2020 and on or before December
1431, 2020; except that the presumption shall not apply if the
15policeman was on a leave of absence from his or her employment
16or otherwise not required to report for duty for a period of 14
17or more consecutive days immediately prior to the date of
18contraction of COVID-19. For the purposes of determining when
19a policeman contracted COVID-19 under this paragraph, the date
20of contraction is either the date that the policeman was
21diagnosed with COVID-19 or was unable to work due to symptoms
22that were later diagnosed as COVID-19, whichever occurred
23first.
24    For the purposes of this Section, the death of any
25policeman as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder shall
26be rebuttably presumed to have been contracted while in the

 

 

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1performance of an act or acts of duty and the policeman shall
2be rebuttably presumed to have been fatally injured while in
3active service.
4    The provisions of this Section, as amended by Public Act
584-1104, including the reference to the date upon which the
6deceased policeman would have attained age 63, shall apply to
7all widows of policemen whose death occurs on or after January
81, 1940 due to injury incurred in the performance of an act of
9duty, regardless of whether such death occurred prior to
10September 17, 1969. For those widows of policemen that died
11prior to September 17, 1969, who became eligible for
12compensation annuity by the action of Public Act 84-1104, such
13compensation annuity shall begin and be calculated from
14January 1, 1986. The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1987
15are intended to restate and clarify the intent of Public Act
1684-1104, and do not make any substantive change.
17    (b) Upon termination of the compensation annuity,
18"supplemental annuity" shall become payable to the widow,
19equal to the difference between the annuity for the widow and
20an amount equal to 75% of the annual salary (including all
21salary increases and longevity raises) that the policeman
22would have been receiving when he attained age 63 if the
23policeman had continued in service at the same rank (whether
24career service or exempt) that he last held in the police
25department. The increase in supplemental annuity resulting
26from this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly applies

 

 

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1without regard to whether the deceased policeman was in
2service on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act
3and is payable from July 1, 2002 or the date upon which the
4supplemental annuity begins, whichever is later.
5    (c) Neither compensation nor supplemental annuity shall be
6paid unless the death of the policeman was a direct result of
7the injury, or the injury was of such character as to prevent
8him from subsequently resuming service as a policeman; nor
9shall compensation or supplemental annuity be paid unless the
10widow was the wife of the policeman when the injury occurred.
11(Source: P.A. 101-633, eff. 6-5-20.)
 
12    (40 ILCS 5/5-154.1)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 5-154.1)
13    Sec. 5-154.1. Occupational disease disability benefit.
14    (a) The General Assembly finds that service in the police
15department requires police officers in times of stress and
16danger to perform unusual tasks; that police officers are
17subject to exposure to extreme heat or extreme cold in certain
18seasons while performing their duties; and that these
19conditions exist and arise out of or in the course of
20employment.
21    (b) Any police officer with at least 10 years of service
22who suffers a heart attack or any other disabling heart
23disease but is not entitled to a benefit under Section 5-154 is
24entitled to receive an occupational disease disability benefit
25under this Section. The occupational disease disability

 

 

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1benefit shall be 65% of the salary attached to the rank held by
2the police officer in the police service at the time of his or
3her removal from the police department payroll. However, no
4occupational disease disability benefit that has been payable
5under this Section for at least 10 years shall be less than 50%
6of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank
7held by the police officer at the time of his or her removal
8from the police department payroll.
9    The police officer is also entitled to a child's
10disability benefit of $100 per month for each natural or
11legally adopted unmarried child less than age 18 dependent
12upon the police officer for support. The total child's
13disability benefit shall not exceed 10% of the police
14officer's salary at the time of removal from the police
15department payroll. The increase in child's disability benefit
16provided by this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly
17applies beginning January 1, 2000 to all such benefits payable
18on or after that date, regardless of whether the disabled
19policeman is in active service on or after the effective date
20of this amendatory Act.
21    The occupational disease disability benefit is payable
22during the period of disability until the police officer
23attains age 63 or compulsory retirement age, whichever occurs
24later; thereafter the police officer shall receive the
25benefits provided under the other provisions of this Article.
26If the police officer ceases to be disabled, the occupational

 

 

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1disease disability benefit shall cease.
2    The child's disability benefit is payable during the
3period of disability until the child attains age 18 or
4marries, whichever event occurs first, except that a benefit
5payable on account of a child under this Section shall not be
6reduced or terminated by reason of the child's attainment of
7age 18 if he or she is then dependent by reason of a physical
8or mental disability, but shall continue to be paid as long as
9the child's dependency and disability continue.
10    Any active policeman who has completed 7 or more years of
11service and is unable to perform his or her duties in the
12police department by reason of a disabling post-traumatic
13stress disorder that develops or manifests itself during a
14period while the policeman is in the service of the department
15shall be entitled to receive an occupational disease
16disability benefit during any period of such disability for
17which he or she does not have a right to receive salary. This
18entitlement may be rebutted by the city by competent medical
19evidence.
20(Source: P.A. 92-52, eff. 7-12-01.)
 
21    (40 ILCS 5/6-140)  (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-140)
22    Sec. 6-140. Death in the line of duty.
23    (a) The annuity for the widow of a fireman whose death
24results from the performance of an act or acts of duty shall be
25an amount equal to 50% of the current annual salary attached to

 

 

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1the classified position to which the fireman was certified at
2the time of his death and 75% thereof after December 31, 1972.
3    Unless the performance of an act or acts of duty results
4directly in the death of the fireman, or prevents him from
5subsequently resuming active service in the fire department,
6the annuity herein provided shall not be paid; nor shall such
7annuities be paid unless the widow was the wife of the fireman
8at the time of the act or acts of duty which resulted in his
9death.
10    For the purposes of this Section only, the death of any
11fireman as a result of the exposure to and contraction of
12COVID-19, as evidenced by either (i) a confirmed positive
13laboratory test for COVID-19 or COVID-19 antibodies or (ii) a
14confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed medical
15professional, shall be rebuttably presumed to have been
16contracted while in the performance of an act or acts of duty
17and the fireman shall be rebuttably presumed to have been
18fatally injured while in active service. The presumption shall
19apply to any fireman who was exposed to and contracted
20COVID-19 on or after March 9, 2020 and on or before December
2131, 2020; except that the presumption shall not apply if the
22fireman was on a leave of absence from his or her employment or
23otherwise not required to report for duty for a period of 14 or
24more consecutive days immediately prior to the date of
25contraction of COVID-19. For the purposes of determining when
26a fireman contracted COVID-19 under this paragraph, the date

 

 

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1of contraction is either the date that the fireman was
2diagnosed with COVID-19 or was unable to work due to symptoms
3that were later diagnosed as COVID-19, whichever occurred
4first.
5    For the purposes of this Section, the death of any fireman
6as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder shall be
7rebuttably presumed to have been contracted while in the
8performance of an act or acts of duty and the fireman shall be
9rebuttably presumed to have been fatally injured while in
10active service.
11    (b) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory
12Act of the 92nd General Assembly apply without regard to
13whether the deceased fireman was in service on or after the
14effective date of this amendatory Act. In the case of a widow
15receiving an annuity under this Section that has been reduced
16to 40% of current salary because the fireman, had he lived,
17would have attained the age prescribed for compulsory
18retirement, the annuity shall be restored to the amount
19provided in subsection (a), with the increase beginning to
20accrue on the later of January 1, 2001 or the day the annuity
21first became payable.
22(Source: P.A. 101-633, eff. 6-5-20.)
 
23    (40 ILCS 5/6-151.1)   (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-151.1)
24    Sec. 6-151.1. The General Assembly finds and declares that
25service in the Fire Department requires that firemen, in times

 

 

HB3837- 9 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1of stress and danger, must perform unusual tasks; that by
2reason of their occupation, firemen are subject to exposure to
3great heat and to extreme cold in certain seasons while in
4performance of their duties; that by reason of their
5employment firemen are required to work in the midst of and are
6subject to heavy smoke fumes and carcinogenic, poisonous,
7toxic or chemical gases from fires; and that in the course of
8their rescue and paramedic duties firemen are exposed to
9disabling infectious diseases, including AIDS, hepatitis C,
10and stroke. The General Assembly further finds and declares
11that all the aforementioned conditions exist and arise out of
12or in the course of such employment.
13    Any active fireman who has completed 7 or more years of
14service and is unable to perform his duties in the Fire
15Department by reason of heart disease, tuberculosis, any
16disease of the lungs or respiratory tract, AIDS, hepatitis C,
17or stroke resulting from his service as a fireman, shall be
18entitled to receive an occupational disease disability benefit
19during any period of such disability for which he does not have
20a right to receive salary.
21    Any active fireman who has completed 7 or more years of
22service and is unable to perform his duties in the fire
23department by reason of a disabling cancer, which develops or
24manifests itself during a period while the fireman is in the
25service of the department, shall be entitled to receive an
26occupational disease disability benefit during any period of

 

 

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1such disability for which he does not have a right to receive
2salary. In order to receive this occupational disease
3disability benefit, the type of cancer involved must be a type
4which may be caused by exposure to heat, radiation or a known
5carcinogen as defined by the International Agency for Research
6on Cancer.
7    Any fireman who shall enter the service after the
8effective date of this amendatory Act shall be examined by one
9or more practicing physicians appointed by the Board, and if
10that examination discloses impairment of the heart, lungs, or
11respiratory tract, or the existence of AIDS, hepatitis C,
12stroke, or cancer, then the fireman shall not be entitled to
13receive an occupational disease disability benefit unless and
14until a subsequent examination reveals no such impairment,
15AIDS, hepatitis C, stroke, or cancer.
16    Any active fireman who has completed 7 or more years of
17service and is unable to perform his or her duties in the fire
18department by reason of a disabling post-traumatic stress
19disorder, which develops or manifests itself during a period
20while the fireman is in the service of the department, shall be
21entitled to receive an occupational disease disability benefit
22during any period of such disability for which he or she does
23not have a right to receive salary. This entitlement may be
24rebutted by the city by competent medical evidence.
25    The occupational disease disability benefit shall be 65%
26of the fireman's salary at the time of his removal from the

 

 

HB3837- 11 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1Department payroll. However, beginning January 1, 1994, no
2occupational disease disability benefit that has been payable
3under this Section for at least 10 years shall be less than 50%
4of the current salary attached from time to time to the rank
5and grade held by the fireman at the time of his removal from
6the Department payroll, regardless of whether that removal
7occurred before the effective date of this amendatory Act of
81993.
9    Such fireman also shall have a right to receive child's
10disability benefit of $30 per month on account of each
11unmarried child who is less than 18 years of age or
12handicapped, dependent upon the fireman for support, and
13either the issue of the fireman or legally adopted by him. The
14total amount of child's disability benefit payable to the
15fireman, when added to his occupational disease disability
16benefit, shall not exceed 75% of the amount of salary which he
17was receiving at the time of the grant of occupational disease
18disability benefit.
19    The first payment of occupational disease disability
20benefit or child's disability benefit shall be made not later
21than one month after the benefit is granted. Each subsequent
22payment shall be made not later than one month after the date
23of the latest payment.
24    Occupational disease disability benefit shall be payable
25during the period of the disability until the fireman reaches
26the age of compulsory retirement. Child's disability benefit

 

 

HB3837- 12 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1shall be paid to such a fireman during the period of disability
2until such child or children attain age 18 or marry, whichever
3event occurs first; except that attainment of age 18 by a child
4who is so physically or mentally handicapped as to be
5dependent upon the fireman for support, shall not render the
6child ineligible for child's disability benefit. The fireman
7thereafter shall receive such annuity or annuities as are
8provided for him in accordance with other provisions of this
9Article.
10(Source: P.A. 93-654, eff. 1-16-04.)
 
11    Section 10. The Workers' Compensation Act is amended by
12changing Section 6 as follows:
 
13    (820 ILCS 305/6)  (from Ch. 48, par. 138.6)
14    Sec. 6. (a) Every employer within the provisions of this
15Act, shall, under the rules and regulations prescribed by the
16Commission, post printed notices in their respective places of
17employment in such number and at such places as may be
18determined by the Commission, containing such information
19relative to this Act as in the judgment of the Commission may
20be necessary to aid employees to safeguard their rights under
21this Act in event of injury.
22    In addition thereto, the employer shall post in a
23conspicuous place on the place of the employment a printed or
24typewritten notice stating whether he is insured or whether he

 

 

HB3837- 13 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1has qualified and is operating as a self-insured employer. In
2the event the employer is insured, the notice shall state the
3name and address of his insurance carrier, the number of the
4insurance policy, its effective date and the date of
5termination. In the event of the termination of the policy for
6any reason prior to the termination date stated, the posted
7notice shall promptly be corrected accordingly. In the event
8the employer is operating as a self-insured employer the
9notice shall state the name and address of the company, if any,
10servicing the compensation payments of the employer, and the
11name and address of the person in charge of making
12compensation payments.
13    (b) Every employer subject to this Act shall maintain
14accurate records of work-related deaths, injuries and illness
15other than minor injuries requiring only first aid treatment
16and which do not involve medical treatment, loss of
17consciousness, restriction of work or motion, or transfer to
18another job and file with the Commission, in writing, a report
19of all accidental deaths, injuries and illnesses arising out
20of and in the course of the employment resulting in the loss of
21more than 3 scheduled work days. In the case of death such
22report shall be made no later than 2 working days following the
23accidental death. In all other cases such report shall be made
24between the 15th and 25th of each month unless required to be
25made sooner by rule of the Commission. In case the injury
26results in permanent disability, a further report shall be

 

 

HB3837- 14 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1made as soon as it is determined that such permanent
2disability has resulted or will result from the injury. All
3reports shall state the date of the injury, including the time
4of day or night, the nature of the employer's business, the
5name, address, age, sex, conjugal condition of the injured
6person, the specific occupation of the injured person, the
7direct cause of the injury and the nature of the accident, the
8character of the injury, the length of disability, and in case
9of death the length of disability before death, the wages of
10the injured person, whether compensation has been paid to the
11injured person, or to his or her legal representative or his
12heirs or next of kin, the amount of compensation paid, the
13amount paid for physicians', surgeons' and hospital bills, and
14by whom paid, and the amount paid for funeral or burial
15expenses if known. The reports shall be made on forms and in
16the manner as prescribed by the Commission and shall contain
17such further information as the Commission shall deem
18necessary and require. The making of these reports releases
19the employer from making such reports to any other officer of
20the State and shall satisfy the reporting provisions as
21contained in the Safety Inspection and Education Act, the
22Health and Safety Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health
23Act. The reports filed with the Commission pursuant to this
24Section shall be made available by the Commission to the
25Director of Labor or his representatives and to all other
26departments of the State of Illinois which shall require such

 

 

HB3837- 15 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1information for the proper discharge of their official duties.
2Failure to file with the Commission any of the reports
3required in this Section is a petty offense.
4    Except as provided in this paragraph, all reports filed
5hereunder shall be confidential and any person having access
6to such records filed with the Illinois Workers' Compensation
7Commission as herein required, who shall release any
8information therein contained including the names or otherwise
9identify any persons sustaining injuries or disabilities, or
10give access to such information to any unauthorized person,
11shall be subject to discipline or discharge, and in addition
12shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. The Commission shall
13compile and distribute to interested persons aggregate
14statistics, taken from the reports filed hereunder. The
15aggregate statistics shall not give the names or otherwise
16identify persons sustaining injuries or disabilities or the
17employer of any injured person or person with a disability.
18    (c) Notice of the accident shall be given to the employer
19as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the
20accident. Provided:
21        (1) In case of the legal disability of the employee or
22    any dependent of a deceased employee who may be entitled
23    to compensation under the provisions of this Act, the
24    limitations of time by this Act provided do not begin to
25    run against such person under legal disability until a
26    guardian has been appointed.

 

 

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1        (2) In cases of injuries sustained by exposure to
2    radiological materials or equipment, notice shall be given
3    to the employer within 90 days subsequent to the time that
4    the employee knows or suspects that he has received an
5    excessive dose of radiation.
6    No defect or inaccuracy of such notice shall be a bar to
7the maintenance of proceedings on arbitration or otherwise by
8the employee unless the employer proves that he is unduly
9prejudiced in such proceedings by such defect or inaccuracy.
10    Notice of the accident shall give the approximate date and
11place of the accident, if known, and may be given orally or in
12writing.
13    (d) Every employer shall notify each injured employee who
14has been granted compensation under the provisions of Section
158 of this Act of his rights to rehabilitation services and
16advise him of the locations of available public rehabilitation
17centers and any other such services of which the employer has
18knowledge.
19    In any case, other than one where the injury was caused by
20exposure to radiological materials or equipment or asbestos
21unless the application for compensation is filed with the
22Commission within 3 years after the date of the accident,
23where no compensation has been paid, or within 2 years after
24the date of the last payment of compensation, where any has
25been paid, whichever shall be later, the right to file such
26application shall be barred.

 

 

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1    In any case of injury caused by exposure to radiological
2materials or equipment or asbestos, unless application for
3compensation is filed with the Commission within 25 years
4after the last day that the employee was employed in an
5environment of hazardous radiological activity or asbestos,
6the right to file such application shall be barred.
7    If in any case except one where the injury was caused by
8exposure to radiological materials or equipment or asbestos,
9the accidental injury results in death application for
10compensation for death may be filed with the Commission within
113 years after the date of death where no compensation has been
12paid or within 2 years after the date of the last payment of
13compensation where any has been paid, whichever shall be
14later, but not thereafter.
15    If an accidental injury caused by exposure to radiological
16material or equipment or asbestos results in death within 25
17years after the last day that the employee was so exposed
18application for compensation for death may be filed with the
19Commission within 3 years after the date of death, where no
20compensation has been paid, or within 2 years after the date of
21the last payment of compensation where any has been paid,
22whichever shall be later, but not thereafter.
23    (e) Any contract or agreement made by any employer or his
24agent or attorney with any employee or any other beneficiary
25of any claim under the provisions of this Act within 7 days
26after the injury shall be presumed to be fraudulent.

 

 

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1    (f) Any condition or impairment of health of an employee
2employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT),
3emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), advanced
4emergency medical technician (A-EMT), or paramedic which
5results directly or indirectly from any bloodborne pathogen,
6lung or respiratory disease or condition, heart or vascular
7disease or condition, hypertension, tuberculosis, or cancer,
8or post-traumatic stress disorder resulting in any disability
9(temporary, permanent, total, or partial) to the employee
10shall be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and in the course
11of the employee's firefighting, EMT, or paramedic employment
12and, further, shall be rebuttably presumed to be causally
13connected to the hazards or exposures of the employment. This
14presumption shall also apply to any hernia or hearing loss
15suffered by an employee employed as a firefighter, EMT, EMT-I,
16A-EMT, or paramedic. However, this presumption shall not apply
17to any employee who has been employed as a firefighter, EMT, or
18paramedic for less than 5 years at the time he or she files an
19Application for Adjustment of Claim concerning this condition
20or impairment with the Illinois Workers' Compensation
21Commission. The rebuttable presumption established under this
22subsection, however, does not apply to an emergency medical
23technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-intermediate
24(EMT-I), advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT), or
25paramedic employed by a private employer if the employee
26spends the preponderance of his or her work time for that

 

 

HB3837- 19 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1employer engaged in medical transfers between medical care
2facilities or non-emergency medical transfers to or from
3medical care facilities. The changes made to this subsection
4by Public Act 98-291 shall be narrowly construed.
5    Any condition or impairment of health of an employee
6employed as a police officer that results directly or
7indirectly from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting in
8any disability (temporary, permanent, total, or partial) to
9the employee shall be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and
10in the course of the employee's police employment and,
11further, shall be rebuttably presumed to be causally connected
12to the hazards or exposures of the employment. For these
13purposes, "police officer" has the same meaning given to that
14term in Section 3-106 of the Illinois Pension Code.
15     The Finding and Decision of the Illinois Workers'
16Compensation Commission under only the rebuttable presumption
17provision of this subsection shall not be admissible or be
18deemed res judicata in any disability claim under the Illinois
19Pension Code arising out of the same medical condition;
20however, this sentence makes no change to the law set forth in
21Krohe v. City of Bloomington, 204 Ill.2d 392.
22    (g) In this Section, "condition or impairment of health"
23includes post-traumatic stress disorder arising out of and in
24the course of employment affecting a person employed as a
25firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency
26medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), advanced emergency

 

 

HB3837- 20 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1medical technician (A-EMT), or paramedic.
2(Source: P.A. 98-291, eff. 1-1-14; 98-874, eff. 1-1-15;
398-973, eff. 8-15-14; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 99-143, eff.
47-27-15.)
 
5    Section 15. The Workers' Occupational Diseases Act is
6amended by changing Section 1 as follows:
 
7    (820 ILCS 310/1)  (from Ch. 48, par. 172.36)
8    Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the
9"Workers' Occupational Diseases Act".
10    (a) The term "employer" as used in this Act shall be
11construed to be:
12        1. The State and each county, city, town, township,
13    incorporated village, school district, body politic, or
14    municipal corporation therein.
15        2. Every person, firm, public or private corporation,
16    including hospitals, public service, eleemosynary,
17    religious or charitable corporations or associations, who
18    has any person in service or under any contract for hire,
19    express or implied, oral or written.
20        3. Where an employer operating under and subject to
21    the provisions of this Act loans an employee to another
22    such employer and such loaned employee sustains a
23    compensable occupational disease in the employment of such
24    borrowing employer and where such borrowing employer does

 

 

HB3837- 21 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1    not provide or pay the benefits or payments due such
2    employee, such loaning employer shall be liable to provide
3    or pay all benefits or payments due such employee under
4    this Act and as to such employee the liability of such
5    loaning and borrowing employers shall be joint and
6    several, provided that such loaning employer shall in the
7    absence of agreement to the contrary be entitled to
8    receive from such borrowing employer full reimbursement
9    for all sums paid or incurred pursuant to this paragraph
10    together with reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses in
11    any hearings before the Illinois Workers' Compensation
12    Commission or in any action to secure such reimbursement.
13    Where any benefit is provided or paid by such loaning
14    employer, the employee shall have the duty of rendering
15    reasonable co-operation in any hearings, trials or
16    proceedings in the case, including such proceedings for
17    reimbursement.
18        Where an employee files an Application for Adjustment
19    of Claim with the Illinois Workers' Compensation
20    Commission alleging that his or her claim is covered by
21    the provisions of the preceding paragraph, and joining
22    both the alleged loaning and borrowing employers, they and
23    each of them, upon written demand by the employee and
24    within 7 days after receipt of such demand, shall have the
25    duty of filing with the Illinois Workers' Compensation
26    Commission a written admission or denial of the allegation

 

 

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1    that the claim is covered by the provisions of the
2    preceding paragraph and in default of such filing or if
3    any such denial be ultimately determined not to have been
4    bona fide then the provisions of Paragraph K of Section 19
5    of this Act shall apply.
6        An employer whose business or enterprise or a
7    substantial part thereof consists of hiring, procuring or
8    furnishing employees to or for other employers operating
9    under and subject to the provisions of this Act for the
10    performance of the work of such other employers and who
11    pays such employees their salary or wage notwithstanding
12    that they are doing the work of such other employers shall
13    be deemed a loaning employer within the meaning and
14    provisions of this Section.
15    (b) The term "employee" as used in this Act, shall be
16construed to mean:
17        1. Every person in the service of the State, county,
18    city, town, township, incorporated village or school
19    district, body politic or municipal corporation therein,
20    whether by election, appointment or contract of hire,
21    express or implied, oral or written, including any
22    official of the State, or of any county, city, town,
23    township, incorporated village, school district, body
24    politic or municipal corporation therein and except any
25    duly appointed member of the fire department in any city
26    whose population exceeds 500,000 according to the last

 

 

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1    Federal or State census, and except any member of a fire
2    insurance patrol maintained by a board of underwriters in
3    this State. One employed by a contractor who has
4    contracted with the State, or a county, city, town,
5    township, incorporated village, school district, body
6    politic or municipal corporation therein, through its
7    representatives, shall not be considered as an employee of
8    the State, county, city, town, township, incorporated
9    village, school district, body politic or municipal
10    corporation which made the contract.
11        2. Every person in the service of another under any
12    contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, who
13    contracts an occupational disease while working in the
14    State of Illinois, or who contracts an occupational
15    disease while working outside of the State of Illinois but
16    where the contract of hire is made within the State of
17    Illinois, and any person whose employment is principally
18    localized within the State of Illinois, regardless of the
19    place where the disease was contracted or place where the
20    contract of hire was made, including aliens, and minors
21    who, for the purpose of this Act, except Section 3 hereof,
22    shall be considered the same and have the same power to
23    contract, receive payments and give quittances therefor,
24    as adult employees. An employee or his or her dependents
25    under this Act who shall have a cause of action by reason
26    of an occupational disease, disablement or death arising

 

 

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1    out of and in the course of his or her employment may elect
2    or pursue his or her remedy in the State where the disease
3    was contracted, or in the State where the contract of hire
4    is made, or in the State where the employment is
5    principally localized.
6    (c) "Commission" means the Illinois Workers' Compensation
7Commission created by the Workers' Compensation Act, approved
8July 9, 1951, as amended.
9    (d) In this Act the term "Occupational Disease" means a
10disease arising out of and in the course of the employment or
11which has become aggravated and rendered disabling as a result
12of the exposure of the employment. Such aggravation shall
13arise out of a risk peculiar to or increased by the employment
14and not common to the general public.
15    "Occupational disease" includes post-traumatic stress
16disorder arising out of and in the course of employment
17affecting a person employed as a firefighter, emergency
18medical technician (EMT), emergency medical
19technician-intermediate (EMT-I), advanced emergency medical
20technician (A-EMT), or paramedic.
21    A disease shall be deemed to arise out of the employment if
22there is apparent to the rational mind, upon consideration of
23all the circumstances, a causal connection between the
24conditions under which the work is performed and the
25occupational disease. The disease need not to have been
26foreseen or expected but after its contraction it must appear

 

 

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1to have had its origin or aggravation in a risk connected with
2the employment and to have flowed from that source as a
3rational consequence.
4    An employee shall be conclusively deemed to have been
5exposed to the hazards of an occupational disease when, for
6any length of time however short, he or she is employed in an
7occupation or process in which the hazard of the disease
8exists; provided however, that in a claim of exposure to
9atomic radiation, the fact of such exposure must be verified
10by the records of the central registry of radiation exposure
11maintained by the Department of Public Health or by some other
12recognized governmental agency maintaining records of such
13exposures whenever and to the extent that the records are on
14file with the Department of Public Health or the agency.
15    Any injury to or disease or death of an employee arising
16from the administration of a vaccine, including without
17limitation smallpox vaccine, to prepare for, or as a response
18to, a threatened or potential bioterrorist incident to the
19employee as part of a voluntary inoculation program in
20connection with the person's employment or in connection with
21any governmental program or recommendation for the inoculation
22of workers in the employee's occupation, geographical area, or
23other category that includes the employee is deemed to arise
24out of and in the course of the employment for all purposes
25under this Act. This paragraph added by Public Act 93-829 is
26declarative of existing law and is not a new enactment.

 

 

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1    The employer liable for the compensation in this Act
2provided shall be the employer in whose employment the
3employee was last exposed to the hazard of the occupational
4disease claimed upon regardless of the length of time of such
5last exposure, except, in cases of silicosis or asbestosis,
6the only employer liable shall be the last employer in whose
7employment the employee was last exposed during a period of 60
8days or more after the effective date of this Act, to the
9hazard of such occupational disease, and, in such cases, an
10exposure during a period of less than 60 days, after the
11effective date of this Act, shall not be deemed a last
12exposure. If a miner who is suffering or suffered from
13pneumoconiosis was employed for 10 years or more in one or more
14coal mines there shall, effective July 1, 1973 be a rebuttable
15presumption that his or her pneumoconiosis arose out of such
16employment.
17    If a deceased miner was employed for 10 years or more in
18one or more coal mines and died from a respirable disease there
19shall, effective July 1, 1973, be a rebuttable presumption
20that his or her death was due to pneumoconiosis.
21    Any condition or impairment of health of an employee
22employed as a firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT),
23emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), advanced
24emergency medical technician (A-EMT), or paramedic which
25results directly or indirectly from any bloodborne pathogen,
26lung or respiratory disease or condition, heart or vascular

 

 

HB3837- 27 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1disease or condition, hypertension, tuberculosis, or cancer,
2or post-traumatic stress disorder resulting in any disability
3(temporary, permanent, total, or partial) to the employee
4shall be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and in the course
5of the employee's firefighting, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or
6paramedic employment and, further, shall be rebuttably
7presumed to be causally connected to the hazards or exposures
8of the employment. This presumption shall also apply to any
9hernia or hearing loss suffered by an employee employed as a
10firefighter, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or paramedic. However, this
11presumption shall not apply to any employee who has been
12employed as a firefighter, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or paramedic for
13less than 5 years at the time he or she files an Application
14for Adjustment of Claim concerning this condition or
15impairment with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.
16The rebuttable presumption established under this subsection,
17however, does not apply to an emergency medical technician
18(EMT), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I),
19advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT), or paramedic
20employed by a private employer if the employee spends the
21preponderance of his or her work time for that employer
22engaged in medical transfers between medical care facilities
23or non-emergency medical transfers to or from medical care
24facilities. The changes made to this subsection by this
25amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall be narrowly
26construed.

 

 

HB3837- 28 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1    Any condition or impairment of health of an employee
2employed as a police officer that results directly or
3indirectly from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting in
4any disability (temporary, permanent, total, or partial) to
5the employee shall be rebuttably presumed to arise out of and
6in the course of the employee's police employment and,
7further, shall be rebuttably presumed to be causally connected
8to the hazards or exposures of the employment. For these
9purposes, "police officer" has the same meaning given to that
10term in Section 3-106 of the Illinois Pension Code.
11    The Finding and Decision of the Illinois Workers'
12Compensation Commission under only the rebuttable presumption
13provision of this paragraph shall not be admissible or be
14deemed res judicata in any disability claim under the Illinois
15Pension Code arising out of the same medical condition;
16however, this sentence makes no change to the law set forth in
17Krohe v. City of Bloomington, 204 Ill.2d 392.
18    The insurance carrier liable shall be the carrier whose
19policy was in effect covering the employer liable on the last
20day of the exposure rendering such employer liable in
21accordance with the provisions of this Act.
22    (e) "Disablement" means an impairment or partial
23impairment, temporary or permanent, in the function of the
24body or any of the members of the body, or the event of
25becoming disabled from earning full wages at the work in which
26the employee was engaged when last exposed to the hazards of

 

 

HB3837- 29 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1the occupational disease by the employer from whom he or she
2claims compensation, or equal wages in other suitable
3employment; and "disability" means the state of being so
4incapacitated.
5    (f) No compensation shall be payable for or on account of
6any occupational disease unless disablement, as herein
7defined, occurs within two years after the last day of the last
8exposure to the hazards of the disease, except in cases of
9occupational disease caused by berylliosis or by the
10inhalation of silica dust or asbestos dust and, in such cases,
11within 3 years after the last day of the last exposure to the
12hazards of such disease and except in the case of occupational
13disease caused by exposure to radiological materials or
14equipment, and in such case, within 25 years after the last day
15of last exposure to the hazards of such disease.
16    (g)(1) In any proceeding before the Commission in which
17the employee is a COVID-19 first responder or front-line
18worker as defined in this subsection, if the employee's injury
19or occupational disease resulted from exposure to and
20contraction of COVID-19, the exposure and contraction shall be
21rebuttably presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of
22the employee's first responder or front-line worker employment
23and the injury or occupational disease shall be rebuttably
24presumed to be causally connected to the hazards or exposures
25of the employee's first responder or front-line worker
26employment.

 

 

HB3837- 30 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1    (2) The term "COVID-19 first responder or front-line
2worker" means: all individuals employed as police, fire
3personnel, emergency medical technicians, or paramedics; all
4individuals employed and considered as first responders; all
5workers for health care providers, including nursing homes and
6rehabilitation facilities and home care workers; corrections
7officers; and any individuals employed by essential businesses
8and operations as defined in Executive Order 2020-10 dated
9March 20, 2020, as long as individuals employed by essential
10businesses and operations are required by their employment to
11encounter members of the general public or to work in
12employment locations of more than 15 employees. For purposes
13of this subsection only, an employee's home or place of
14residence is not a place of employment, except for home care
15workers.
16    (3) The presumption created in this subsection may be
17rebutted by evidence, including, but not limited to, the
18following:
19        (A) the employee was working from his or her home, on
20    leave from his or her employment, or some combination
21    thereof, for a period of 14 or more consecutive days
22    immediately prior to the employee's injury, occupational
23    disease, or period of incapacity resulted from exposure to
24    COVID-19; or
25        (B) the employer was engaging in and applying to the
26    fullest extent possible or enforcing to the best of its

 

 

HB3837- 31 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1    ability industry-specific workplace sanitation, social
2    distancing, and health and safety practices based on
3    updated guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control
4    and Prevention or Illinois Department of Public Health or
5    was using a combination of administrative controls,
6    engineering controls, or personal protective equipment to
7    reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to all employees for
8    at least 14 consecutive days prior to the employee's
9    injury, occupational disease, or period of incapacity
10    resulting from exposure to COVID-19. For purposes of this
11    subsection, "updated" means the guidance in effect at
12    least 14 days prior to the COVID-19 diagnosis. For
13    purposes of this subsection, "personal protective
14    equipment" means industry-specific equipment worn to
15    minimize exposure to hazards that cause illnesses or
16    serious injuries, which may result from contact with
17    biological, chemical, radiological, physical, electrical,
18    mechanical, or other workplace hazards. "Personal
19    protective equipment" includes, but is not limited to,
20    items such as face coverings, gloves, safety glasses,
21    safety face shields, barriers, shoes, earplugs or muffs,
22    hard hats, respirators, coveralls, vests, and full body
23    suits; or
24        (C) the employee was exposed to COVID-19 by an
25    alternate source.
26    (4) The rebuttable presumption created in this subsection

 

 

HB3837- 32 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1applies to all cases tried after the effective date of this
2amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly and in which the
3diagnosis of COVID-19 was made on or after March 9, 2020 and on
4or before December 31, 2020.
5    (5) Under no circumstances shall any COVID-19 case
6increase or affect any employer's workers' compensation
7insurance experience rating or modification, but COVID-19
8costs may be included in determining overall State loss costs.
9    (6) In order for the presumption created in this
10subsection to apply at trial, for COVID-19 diagnoses occurring
11on or before June 15, 2020, an employee must provide a
12confirmed medical diagnosis by a licensed medical practitioner
13or a positive laboratory test for COVID-19 or for COVID-19
14antibodies; for COVID-19 diagnoses occurring after June 15,
152020, an employee must provide a positive laboratory test for
16COVID-19 or for COVID-19 antibodies.
17    (7) The presumption created in this subsection does not
18apply if the employee's place of employment was solely the
19employee's home or residence for a period of 14 or more
20consecutive days immediately prior to the employee's injury,
21occupational disease, or period of incapacity resulted from
22exposure to COVID-19.
23    (8) The date of injury or the beginning of the employee's
24occupational disease or period of disability is either the
25date that the employee was unable to work due to contraction of
26COVID-19 or was unable to work due to symptoms that were later

 

 

HB3837- 33 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1diagnosed as COVID-19, whichever came first.
2    (9) An employee who contracts COVID-19, but fails to
3establish the rebuttable presumption is not precluded from
4filing for compensation under this Act or under the Workers'
5Compensation Act.
6    (10) To qualify for temporary total disability benefits
7under the presumption created in this subsection, the employee
8must be certified for or recertified for temporary disability.
9    (11) An employer is entitled to a credit against any
10liability for temporary total disability due to an employee as
11a result of the employee contracting COVID-19 for (A) any sick
12leave benefits or extended salary benefits paid to the
13employee by the employer under Emergency Family Medical Leave
14Expansion Act, Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act of the Families
15First Coronavirus Response Act, or any other federal law, or
16(B) any other credit to which an employer is entitled under the
17Workers' Compensation Act.
18(Source: P.A. 101-633, eff. 6-5-20.)
 
19    Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
20Section 8.45 as follows:
 
21    (30 ILCS 805/8.45 new)
22    Sec. 8.45. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and
238 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for
24the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory

 

 

HB3837- 34 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.

 

 

HB3837- 35 -LRB102 14982 RPS 20337 b

1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    40 ILCS 5/5-144from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 5-144
4    40 ILCS 5/5-154.1from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 5-154.1
5    40 ILCS 5/6-140from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-140
6    40 ILCS 5/6-151.1from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 6-151.1
7    820 ILCS 305/6from Ch. 48, par. 138.6
8    820 ILCS 310/1from Ch. 48, par. 172.36
9    30 ILCS 805/8.45 new