The purpose of this Article is to permit 2 or more employers with homogeneous risk characteristics or that are members of a bona fide professional, commercial, industrial, or trade association, with homogenous risk characteristics to pool their workers’ compensation and employer’s liability exposures under this Article.
     The State of Illinois, a unit of local government or school district, or association or instrumentality thereof, or an intergovernmental risk management association, self-insurance pool or self-administered health and accident cooperative or pool shall not be deemed an “employer” or “pool” for the purpose of this Article.