Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 4123 | Workers' Compensation
Section 4123.15 | Recognized Religious Sect Employer May Apply for Exemption.

Effective: May 1, 2003
Latest Legislation: House Bill NO91 - 125th General Assembly
(A) An employer who is a member of a recognized religious sect or division of a recognized religious sect and who is an adherent of established tenets or teachings of that sect or division by reason of which the employer is conscientiously opposed to benefits to employers and employees from any public or private insurance that makes payment in the event of death, disability, impairment, old age, or retirement or makes payments toward the cost of, or provides services in connection with the payment for, medical services, including the benefits from any insurance system established by the "Social Security Act," 42 U.S.C.A. 30l, et seq., may apply to the administrator of workers' compensation to be excepted from payment of premiums and other charges assessed under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code with respect to, or if the employer is a self-insuring employer, from payment of direct compensation and benefits to and assessments required by this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code on account of, an individual employee who meets the requirements of this section. The employer shall make an application on forms provided by the bureau of workers' compensation which forms may be those used by or similar to those used by the United States internal revenue service for the purpose of granting an exemption from payment of social security taxes under 26 U.S.C.A. 1402(g) of the Internal Revenue Code, and shall include a written waiver signed by the individual employee to be excepted from all the benefits and compensation provided in this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code.
The application also shall include affidavits signed by the employer and the individual employee that the employer and the individual employee are members of a recognized religious sect or division of a recognized religious sect and are adherents of established tenets or teaching of that sect or division by reason of which the employer and the individual employee are conscientiously opposed to benefits to employers and employees received from any public or private insurance that makes payments in the event of death, disability, impairment, old age, or retirement or makes payments toward the cost of, or provides services in connection with the payment for, medical services, including the benefits from any insurance system established by the "Social Security Act," 42 U.S.C.A. 301, et seq. If the individual is a minor, the guardian of the minor shall complete the waiver and affidavit required by this division.
(B) The administrator shall grant the waiver and exception to the employer for a particular individual employee if the administrator finds that the employer and the individual employee are members of a sect or division having the established tenets or teachings described in division (A) of this section, that it is the practice, and has been for a substantial number of years, for members of the sect or division of the sect to make provision for their dependent members which, in the administrator's judgment, is reasonable in view of their general level of hiring, and that the sect or division of the sect has been in existence at all times since December 31, 1950.
(C) A waiver and exception under division (B) of this section is effective on the date the administrator grants the waiver and exception. An employer who complies with this chapter and the employer's other employees, with respect to an individual employee for whom the administrator grants the waiver and exception, are entitled, as to that individual employee and as to all injuries and occupational diseases of the individual employee that occurred prior to the effective date of the waiver and exception, to the protections of sections 4123.74 and 4123.741 of the Revised Code. On and after the effective date of the waiver and exception, the employer is not liable for the payment of any premiums or other charges assessed under this chapter or Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code, or if the individual is a self-insuring employer, the employer is not liable for the payment of any compensation or benefits directly or other charges assessed under this chapter or Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code in regard to that individual employee, and is considered a complying employer under those chapters, and the employer and the employer's other employees are entitled to the protections of sections 4123.74 and 4123.741 of the Revised Code, as to that individual employee, and as to injuries and occupational diseases of that individual employee that occur on and after the effective date of the waiver and exception.
(D) A waiver and exception granted in regard to a specific employer and individual employee are valid for all future years unless the administrator determines that the employer, individual employee, or sect or division ceases to meet the requirements of this section. If the administrator makes this determination, the employer is liable for the payment of premiums and other charges assessed under this chapter and Chapter 4121. of the Revised Code, or if the employer is a self-insuring employer, the employer is liable for the payment of compensation and benefits directly and other charges assessed under those chapters, in regard to the individual employee for all injuries and occupational diseases of that individual that occur on and after the date of the administrator's determination, and the individual employee is entitled to all of the benefits and compensation provided in those chapters for an injury or occupational disease that occurs on or after the date of the administrator's determination.

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