W. Va. Code R. § 85-8-4

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 85-8-4 - Employers Required to Maintain Workers' Compensation Insurance; Exemptions; Application for Letter of Exemption

4.1. Duty to maintain insurance. Every employer is required to obtain West Virginia workers' compensation coverage for the protection of its employees.

4.2. Every employer has a continuous and ongoing duty to maintain current information with its current private carrier about the employer's business activities, including all information that could affect the employer's payroll or premium.

4.3. Exemptions. An employer who is otherwise required to maintain mandatory West Virginia workers' compensation coverage is exempt from the requirement in the following circumstances;

4.3.1. An employer of domestic services as defined in section 3.3 of this rule is not required to carry West Virginia workers' compensation coverage for any individuals hired to perform such domestic services;

4.3.2. An employer of five (5) or fewer full-time employees in agricultural services is not required to carry West Virginia workers' compensation coverage for those employees;

4.3.3. An employer who is a casual employer;

4.3.4. An employer who is a church;

4.3.5. An employer who is engaged in organized professional sports activities, including an employer of trainers and jockeys engaged in thoroughbred horse racing; Provided, That the employer must carry coverage for its employees who are not participating in the organized professional sports activities. For example, an employer of jockeys and trainers engaged in thoroughbred horse racing may exempt such jockeys and trainers, but if the same employer also employs a driver to transport horses and equipment, the driver must be provided coverage;

4.3.6. A volunteer rescue squad or volunteer police auxiliary unit organized under the auspices of a county commission, municipality or other government entity or political subdivision, or a volunteer organization created or sponsored by a government entity, political subdivisions or an area or regional emergency medical service board of directors in furtherance of the purposes of the emergency medical services act of article four-c [§§ 16-4C-1et seq.], chapter sixteen of the West Virginia Code; Provided, That if any such employers have paid employees, they must provide West Virginia workers' compensation for such paid employees; or

4.3.7. An employer of employees who are provided coverage for benefits under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U. S. C. § 901, et seq., is exempt from having to carry West Virginia workers' compensation coverage for such employees, but must provide West Virginia workers' compensation coverage for employees who are not provided coverage for benefits under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.

4.4. Application for letter of exemption. An employer may apply to the Insurance Commissioner on forms supplied by the Insurance Commissioner for a letter of exemption from coverage. The Insurance Commissioner will review the application and all evidence submitted by the employer and, based on the provisions of chapter twenty-three of the West Virginia Code and this rule, may make such determination as the Insurance Commissioner deems proper. The Insurance Commissioner shall charge a processing fee for each application in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

W. Va. Code R. § 85-8-4