(A) Village Emergency Management Agency personnel who, while engaged in a disaster or disaster training exercise, suffer disease, injury or death shall, for the purposes of benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act or Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act only, be deemed to be employees of the state, if: the claimant is duly qualified and enrolled (sworn in) as a volunteer of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or an Emergency Management Agency accredited by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency; and, if the claimant was participating in an actual “disaster”, as defined in § 3-5-3 or the exercise participated in was specifically and expressly approved by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall use the same criteria for approving an exercise and utilizing state volunteers as required for any political subdivision. The computation of benefits payable under either of these acts shall be based on the income commensurate with comparable state employees doing the same work or income from the person’s regular employment, whichever is greater.
(B) If any person who is entitled to receive benefits through the application of this section receives in connection with the disease, injury or death giving rise to such entitlement, benefits under an act of Congress or federal program, benefits payable under this section shall be reduced to the extent of the benefits received under that other act or program.
(Ord. 2008-11-64, passed 11-17-2008)