Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workers Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to expand permanent disfigurement benefits under workers' compensation
Summary
House Bill 183 would expand eligibility for permanent disfigurement benefits to injuries anywhere on the body and raise maximum weeks of benefits from 275 to 400; committee adopted a clarifying amendment and reported the bill out with party-line support.
House Bill 183, which would amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to expand eligibility for permanent disfigurement benefits and increase the maximum duration of those benefits from 275 weeks to 400 weeks, was reported as amended by the House Labor & Industry Committee.
Representative Brennan, a cosponsor, said his experience practicing workers' compensation law showed gaps in how the statute compensates workers with severe, permanent disfigurement. "This is a 110‑year‑old statute. This brings a little closer to 21st century," Brennan said, urging committee members to approve measures to help workers with catastrophic injuries.
The bill’s changes would make permanent disfigurement benefits available for injuries occurring anywhere on the body, clarify that the disfigurement benefit is separate from partial or total disability benefits, and raise the statutory maximum weeks for payment to 400.
Amendment A00037, offered to clarify that the bill applies to permanently disfiguring injuries for which permanent disfigurement is reached on or after the bill's effective date regardless of when the original injury occurred, was moved by Representative O’Mara and seconded by Representative Donahue and adopted by the committee. Some members warned the amendment could expand claims and increase costs to employers and insurers; Representative Eckert described concerns about expanding statutory scope and potential cost impacts, saying, "If this bill would pass ... a disfigurement claim could be subject ... you could have a severe burn on your thigh ... and get 400 weeks. Somebody who loses their leg is gonna get less than that. And I think that is something ... really concerning." Representative Kinkade and others argued that modern medicine results in more survivors living with significant disfigurement and that the law should reflect that reality.
The committee recorded Democrats voting in the affirmative and Republicans in the negative on the bill; HB 183 was reported as amended to the full House. Committee members said further discussions on cost and potential compromises are expected as the bill moves through the legislative process.
The amendment and the bill's language as reported will be available in committee files and on the House calendar for floor consideration.
