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Small Business Development Committee approves committee substitute for HB250, removes workers’ compensation references
Summary
The Small Business Development Committee voted to give a committee substitute for HB250 a “do pass” recommendation after removing references to workers’ compensation and placing oversight of professional employer organizations under the insurance commissioner; a previously opposing witness said his group no longer opposes the measure.
The Small Business Development Committee voted to give a committee substitute for HB250 a “do pass” recommendation after amendments removed multiple references to workers’ compensation and left oversight of professional employer organizations with the state insurance commissioner.
The committee’s chair announced the committee substitute was before members at the committee’s meeting; the author, Chairwoman Taylor, told the panel the substitute keeps much of the bill intact but removes provisions related to workers’ compensation. Chairwoman Taylor said, “We had a good discussion about all the good things this bill does. There was some concerns in the area these PEOs. It will be under the jurisdiction of the insurance commissioner.”
The committee substitute, identified in committee as HB250LC520804S, had deletions of text the author said referenced workers’ compensation at multiple line positions in the draft. Chairwoman Taylor described the redactions this way: “line 52, there was deleted workers’ comp … 269 to 271 deleted … 292, they were deleted there too. And 318, and 401 deleted through April.” Those line references were read into the record by the bill author during committee discussion.
A witness who identified himself as Doug and who represented GWA apologized to the committee for his tone during an earlier presentation and said the organization no longer opposed the substitute. Doug said, “I just wanna give this opportunity to apologize for yesterday's presentation … for any disrespect I sincerely and heartfeltly apologize. … As far as GWA is concerned we have no further opposition.”
After brief discussion and no further public testimony, a motion to recommend passage of HB250LC520804S was made and seconded. Committee members were asked to signify their vote verbally; members present said “aye” and the chair declared the committee had given the substitute a do-pass recommendation. There were five members present for the meeting, a quorum the chair noted.
The committee’s action was a recommendation that the bill move forward; no final floor action was taken by the legislature at this meeting. The committee did not adopt new workers’ compensation provisions in the substitute and directed that issues related to workers’ compensation could be addressed at a later time, according to remarks during the discussion.
Chairwoman Taylor thanked members and witnesses after the vote and the committee recessed to continue other business.
