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Senate creates voluntary workers' compensation portal for volunteers
Summary
The Senate approved a first substitute to SB76 to create a voluntary portal enabling nonprofits, festivals and other host entities to obtain workers' compensation coverage for volunteers; benefit calculations are tied to minimum wage and hours volunteered, and the substitute preserves third‑party suit rights and exclusive-remedy protections.
The Senate approved a first substitute to SB76 to allow employers and qualifying organizations to purchase workers' compensation coverage for volunteers through a voluntary portal.
Senator Maine, sponsor of the substitute, said the change responds to repeated requests from nonprofits and event organizers (for example, Park City and large festivals) that have volunteers performing potentially hazardous work and lack an accessible way to buy short‑term coverage. The substitute ties compensation calculations for lost‑wage benefits to the state minimum wage and to the number of hours volunteered; sponsor and supporters said the approach is a practical way to calculate wage replacement where no formal wage exists.
Supporters said the program is voluntary and would not force organizations to buy coverage; it also preserves the exclusive‑remedy protections associated with workers' compensation while leaving a pathway for covered volunteers to sue third parties responsible for injuries. Lawmakers asked questions about potential premium impacts on the broader fund; sponsors said they had discussed those concerns with advisory boards and insurers and designed the program to be optional and administratively feasible.
The president announced the first substitute received 26 yea votes and the bill moved forward on the calendar.
