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Senate advances injured-worker reemployment measure after extensive testimony, 18-9
Summary
After hours of testimony from claimants, the Industrial Commission and business groups, the Senate in committee-of-the-whole advanced Senate Bill 9 to the third-reading calendar by a recorded vote; the bill seeks to strengthen vocational rehabilitation and create a coordinator position under the Industrial Commission.
The Utah Senate moved Senate Bill 9, the Utah Injured Worker Reemployment Act, forward after a lengthy committee-of-the-whole hearing that included testimony from claimants' attorneys, industrial-commission officials and business and labor representatives.
Advocates, including claimant's attorney Jenks Dabney, presented national and state data and argued that spending on vocational rehabilitation pays off over time. "Not a single state argued or concluded that money spent for rehabilitation was in any way unwise," Dabney said, summarizing national analyses and studies that he said support early intervention and retraining of injured workers.
Industrial Commission representatives and other witnesses described different state models (Idaho, Michigan, Connecticut) and traded views about voluntary versus mandatory approaches. Business coalition representatives told senators they supported a voluntary, coordinated approach with a commission-based coordinator to reduce duplication and to collect data.
Fiscal and programmatic figures were discussed on the record: witnesses referenced a Utah pool of permanent total cases growing from the tens into the hundreds (Dabney cited an increase to roughly 500+ cases in recent years), and a back-of-envelope implementation estimate of about $10,000,000 was raised as an example that could translate into a low single-digit percentage change in average premiums if used to fund rehabilitation services. Opponents cautioned that mandatory programs in some other states had produced premium pressure and other issues.
After testimony and floor exchanges, the Senate recorded a roll-call result reported on the floor and moved SB 9 to third reading (the presiding officer announced the recorded tally and placement on the third-reading calendar). Members urged continued stakeholder work to refine implementation and the coordination role described in the bill.
Next procedural steps include third reading and consideration in the full Senate schedule; proponents said they would continue to work with business, labor and the Industrial Commission to address drafting and fiscal questions.
