Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves HB192 to extend workers'comp coverage to volunteer safety officers
Summary
House Bill 192 directs workers'compensation coverage for volunteer safety officers working for other jurisdictions and sets a wage benchmark method for benefits; legislators debated benchmark fairness, legislative-review notes, and fiscal/practical considerations before passing the bill 64-0.
The Utah House debated and approved House Bill 192, which extends workers'compensation coverage to volunteer safety officers who assist other jurisdictions. Representative Hansen (sponsor) said the bill responds to an incident in Ogden where a volunteer officer who assisted at an event was injured and left covering medical bills because they were not a paid employee of the hosting jurisdiction.
Under the bill, municipalities that accept volunteer assistance would include the volunteer in coverage and the labor commission would set a benchmark for wages when computing workers'compensation benefits for disabled volunteers. Sponsors and supporters said the measure would both protect volunteers and reduce lawsuits against governmental entities by providing compensation in lieu of civil suits.
Debate focused on the wage benchmark (whether it should be tied to the host jurisdiction's pay scale or the first-class-city benchmark) and on legislative-review notes suggesting possible inequities among categories of peace officers and firefighters. Members asked the workers'compensation advisory council about fiscal impacts; sponsors said the fund and municipalities support the bill and that projected premiums could be absorbed within existing budgets. The House approved HB192 by voice/record (64 yes, 0 no) and will forward it to the Senate.
