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House passes workers’ compensation amendments that change exemptions for agricultural employees, 69–0
Summary
The House approved HB280, a workers' compensation bill that clarifies exemptions and establishes payroll-based tiers: employers with prior-year payroll under $8,000 are exempt; payroll between $8,000 and $50,000 must carry $300,000 employer liability insurance and $5,000 medical coverage; payroll over $50,000 is not exempt. The measure passed 69–0.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House unanimously passed House Bill 280 on Feb. 5, 1998, a workers' compensation package that updates exemptions for agricultural employees and clarifies employer liability tiers.
On the floor the sponsor and floor speaker explained key provisions: the bill removes certain historic exemptions, adopts a definition of 'agricultural employee' consistent with the Employment Security Act, and establishes a payroll-based structure. Under the version described on the floor, an employee whose prior-year payroll was under $8,000 would be exempt from mandatory workers' compensation coverage; employers with payroll between $8,000 and $50,000 would be required to carry $300,000 employer liability insurance and $5,000 medical coverage; and employers with payroll over $50,000 would have no exemption and must carry standard workers' compensation coverage.
The House adopted pink-sheet amendments clarifying limited liability company/partnership language and adding 'niece' to the definition of family members in one subsection; the amendments were moved and adopted on the floor. The clerk reported the final vote as 69 yes, 0 no. The bill will be forwarded to the Senate for their consideration.
The sponsor explained the bill reflects interim committee work to reach a compromise intended to balance protections for employees with the operational realities of agricultural employers.
