Senate approves continuation of workers’ compensation task force after heated debate over makeup and cost

Senator Dixie Levitt urged colleagues to continue a special task force studying the state workers’ compensation fund, saying the panel’s work was needed to follow up on concerns about pay levels and organizational practices. "The request for this committee to be able to continue its work and to finish it up is the purpose," Levitt said.

Opponents argued the Legislature already has a forum for such oversight. "What I'd like to do ... is empower the Business, Labor and Agriculture Appropriation Committee," said Senator Steele, who proposed a substitute to move the work into that standing appropriation committee so members with budget expertise could review pay-related issues directly. Senator Cornaby and others objected that the interim State and Local Affairs Committee or the original task force had already addressed parts of the matter and warned against proliferation of new task forces and added costs.

Senator Beatty, who served on the earlier special task force, defended the initial group's work and said it yielded positive results: she argued continuing the task force would preserve continuity and further strengthen the fund for contributors. Senator Black raised fiscal concerns, saying transferring the work to the larger appropriation committee would increase per-diem and staffing costs and could more than double the fiscal note.

The Senate rejected the substitute amendment to place the review with the Business, Labor and Agriculture Appropriation Committee (standing count: 10 in favor, 12 opposed) and later defeated a motion to equalize House membership on the panel. On final passage Senate Bill 74 passed, 17–9 with 3 absent. The bill continues the task force so it can complete the auditor review and report back.