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Legislative committee introduces several workers—compensation and burial-benefit bills; motions pass by voice vote
Summary
At a brief legislative committee meeting, members voted to accept minutes and to introduce four resolution-style bills (RS31776, RS31777, RS31782, RS31784) relating to workers' compensation definitions, notice procedures and funeral benefits; all motions passed by voice vote with counts not specified.
The committee accepted minutes from Jan. 21, 2025, and then moved to introduce four draft measures dealing with workers' compensation definitions, notice procedures for Industrial Commission hearings and a proposed increase in burial benefits, with each motion approved by voice vote.
Representative Chris Bruce of District 23 introduced RS31776, saying the proposal "seeks to clarify which individuals within the business entity have liability for failure to obtain workers' compensation insurance, specifically, enumerating the term members." Representative Weber moved to introduce the bill, and the motion passed by voice vote; a recorded roll-call count was not provided.
Bruce also introduced RS31777, described as an amendment to "define member of an employer's family" by moving language from Idaho Code section 72-212 into the definition section at Idaho Code 72-102, which relates to exemptions from coverage. Representative Healy moved to introduce RS31777; the motion passed by voice vote and no numerical tally was stated.
Representative Bruce Skog of District 10 presented RS31782, which he said "retains the requirement that the commission give at least a 10 day written notice of hearing to the parties, but it allows for service of notice by regular facsimile or email for parties also." After the presentation, Representative Chris Bruce moved to read RS31782; the motion passed by voice vote.
Skog then described RS31784 as a change to the death and burial benefit paid under workers' compensation. He said the statutory burial benefit has been $6,000 since 1993 and proposed increasing it to $10,000, noting the benefit is paid from employer insurance premiums rather than the general fund. Representative Weber moved to introduce RS31784; the motion passed by voice vote.
All introductions and the minutes acceptance were handled as procedural motions; no committee debate, amendments or recorded vote counts were provided in the transcript. Committee leadership adjourned the meeting after the motions passed.
Votes at a glance
- Acceptance of minutes from Jan. 21, 2025: Motion to accept moved by Representative Ebert; passed by voice vote (counts not specified). - RS31776 (workers' compensation: liability within business entities; "members" clarified): Moved to introduce by Representative Weber; passed by voice vote (counts not specified). - RS31777 (definition: move employer's-family language from Idaho Code 72-212 to 72-102): Moved to introduce by Representative Healy; passed by voice vote (counts not specified). - RS31782 (Industrial Commission notice: keep 10-day written notice; allow service by fax or email): Moved to read/introduce by Representative Chris Bruce; passed by voice vote (counts not specified). - RS31784 (increase burial benefit from $6,000 to $10,000; funded via employer insurance premiums): Moved to introduce by Representative Weber; passed by voice vote (counts not specified).
The transcript records these items as introductions and motions to "print" or "introduce" the RS numbers; the committee did not adopt final legislation or record detailed roll-call votes in the provided excerpt.
