(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), all construction services providers shall be required to carry workers’ compensation insurance on themselves. The requirement set out in this subsection (a) shall apply whether or not the provider employs fewer than five (5) employees.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 50-6-902

  • Administrator: means the chief administrative officer of the bureau of workers' compensation of the department of labor and workforce development. See Tennessee Code 50-6-102
  • Commercial construction project: means any construction project that is not:
    (A) The construction, erection, remodeling, repair, improvement, alteration or demolition of one (1), two (2), three (3) or four (4) family unit residences not exceeding three (3) stories in height or accessory use structures in connection with the residences. See Tennessee Code 50-6-901
  • Construction project: means the construction, erection, remodeling, repair, improvement, alteration or demolition of a building, structure or other undertaking. See Tennessee Code 50-6-901
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Engaged in the construction industry: means any person or entity assigned to the contracting group as those classifications are designated by the rate service organization designated by the commissioner of commerce and insurance as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 50-6-901
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • general contractor: includes a prime contractor. See Tennessee Code 50-6-901
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: means only a natural person and does not include a business entity. See Tennessee Code 50-6-901
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • provider: means any person or entity engaged in the construction industry. See Tennessee Code 50-6-901
  • Registry: means the construction services provider workers' compensation exemption registry established pursuant to this part and maintained by the bureau of workers' compensation. See Tennessee Code 50-6-901
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) To the extent there is no restriction on applying for an exemption pursuant to § 50-6-903, a construction services provider shall be exempt from subsection (a) if the provider:

(1) Is a construction services provider rendering services on a construction project that is not a commercial construction project and is listed on the registry;
(2) Is a construction services provider rendering services on a commercial construction project, is listed on the registry and such provider is rendering services to a person or entity that complies with § 50-6-914(b)(2);
(3) Is covered under a policy of workers’ compensation insurance maintained by the person or entity for whom the provider is providing services;
(4) Is a construction services provider performing work directly for the owner of the property; provided, however, that this subdivision (b)(4) shall not apply to a construction services provider who acts as a general or intermediate contractor and who subsequently subcontracts any of the work contracted to be performed on behalf of the owner;
(5) Is a construction services provider building a dwelling or other structure, or performing maintenance, repairs, or making additions to structures, on the construction service provider’s own property; or
(6) Is a provider whose employment at the time of injury is casual as provided in § 50-6-106.
(c) A subcontractor engaged in the construction industry under contract to a general contractor engaged in the construction industry may elect to be covered under any policy of workers’ compensation insurance insuring the general contractor upon written agreement of the general contractor, regardless of whether such subcontractor is on the registry established pursuant to this part, by filing written notice of the election, on a form prescribed by the administrator of the workers’ compensation bureau, with the bureau. It is the responsibility of the general contractor to file the written notice with the bureau. Failure of the general contractor to file the written notice shall not operate to relieve or alter the obligation of an insurance company to provide coverage to a subcontractor when the subcontractor can produce evidence of payment of premiums to the insurance company for the coverage. The election shall in no way terminate or affect the independent contractor status of the subcontractor for any other purpose than to permit workers’ compensation coverage. The election of coverage may be terminated by the subcontractor or general contractor by providing written notice of the termination to the bureau and to all other parties consenting to the prior election. The termination shall be effective thirty (30) days from the date of the notice to all other parties consenting to the prior election and to the bureau.
(d) Nothing in this part shall be construed as exempting or preventing a construction services provider from carrying workers’ compensation insurance for any of its employees. The requirement set out in this subsection (d) shall apply whether or not the provider employs fewer than five (5) employees.
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