(a) Where any employer in this State is automatically and without election subject to and bound by the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act by reason of the provisions of Section 3 thereof, as heretofore or hereafter amended, then such employer and all of his employees working within this State shall be automatically and without election subject to and bound by the compensation provisions of this Act with respect to all cases in which the last day of the last exposure to the hazards of the disease claimed upon shall have been on or after July 1, 1957. However, nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to apply to any business, enterprise, household or residence which is exempt from the compensation provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act under paragraphs 17, 18 and 19 of Section 3 of that Act. (b) Any employer in this State who does not come within the classes enumerated by Section 2 (a) of this Act may elect to provide and pay compensation according to the provisions of this Act, for disability or death resulting from occupational diseases, and such election, when effective, shall apply to all cases in which the last day of the last exposure as defined in this Act to the hazards of the occupational disease claimed upon shall have occurred on or after the effective date of such election, and shall relieve such employer of all liability under Section 3 of this Act and all other liability with respect to injury to health or death therefrom by reason of any disease contracted or sustained in the course of the employment. The State of Illinois hereby elects to provide and pay compensation according to the provisions of this Act.(c) Election by any employer, pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section shall be made by filing notice of such election with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission or by insuring his liability to pay compensation under this Act in some insurance carrier authorized, licensed or permitted to do such insurance business in this State. Such employer shall either furnish to his employees personally or post in a conspicuous place in the place of employment notice of his election. (d) Every employer who has elected pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section to provide and pay compensation shall, from and after the effective date of such election be and operate under all provisions of this Act except Section 3 hereof, with respect to all his employees except those who have rejected in due time as provided in paragraph (e). Any employer having elected, prior to October 1, 1941, not to provide and pay compensation may at any time thereafter again elect pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) to provide and pay compensation, but having thus elected for the second time to provide and pay compensation such employer shall, from and after the effective date of such last said election, be and operate under all provisions of this Act, except Section 3 hereof, with respect to all employees except those who have rejected in due time as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. (e) If any employer elects, pursuant to paragraph (b) and (c) of this section, then every employee of such employer, who may be employed at the time of such election by such employer, shall be deemed to have accepted all the compensation provisions of this Act and shall be bound thereby unless within 30 days after such election he shall file a notice to the contrary with the Commission whose duty it shall be immediately to notify the employer, and until such notice is given to the employer, the measure of liability of such employer shall be determined according to the compensation provisions of this Act; and every employee of such employer, hired after such employer's election, as a part of his contract of hiring shall be deemed to have accepted all of the compensation provisions of this Act, and shall have no right of rejection. (f) Every employer within the provisions of this Act who has elected to provide any pay compensation according to the provisions of this Act by filing notice of such election with the Commission, shall be bound thereby as to all his employees until January 1st of the next succeeding year and for terms of each year thereafter. Any such employer who may have once elected, may elect not to provide and pay the compensation herein provided for accidents resulting in either injury or death and occurring after the expiration of any such calendar year by filing notice of such election with the Commission at least 60 days prior to the expiration of any such calendar year, and by posting such notice at a conspicuous place in the plant, shop, office, room or place where such employee is employed, or by personal service, in written or printed form, upon such employees, at least 60 days prior to the expiration of any such calendar year.
Every employer within the provisions of this Act who has elected to provide and pay compensation according to the provisions of this Act by insuring his liability to pay compensation under this Act, as above provided, shall be bound thereby as to all his employees until the date of expiration or cancellation of such policy of insurance, or any renewal thereof.
Amended by P.A. 093-0721, § 75, eff. 1/1/2005.