Committee Adopts Amendment 0.02h to HB23-75 and Votes Substitute Do Pass, 10-1

A House committee adopted an amendment and advanced a substitute for House Bill 23-75 on a 10-1 roll-call vote.

Chairman Deal introduced the chair’s amendment, identified as 0.02h, and moved for its adoption. “The chair has an amendment ending in 0.02h. It has been distributed, and I move for its adoption,” he said. He described the amendment’s opening section as repeating earlier language to keep provisions congruent for law enforcement and first responders and said a later part deletes a reference to subsection 3 of section 287.17(o) to address concerns over private sources of supplemental coverage.

Representative Allen, speaking in support, said bipartisan concerns had been addressed. “All of those were addressed with this and I appreciate that,” Allen said, adding that remaining concerns could be handled later in rules or other venues.

The committee adopted amendment 0.02h by voice vote, then agreed to roll the amendment into a new House committee substitute. Chairman Deal then moved that the committee substitute for House Bill 23-75 be voted do pass. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote and the chair announced the substitute was approved by a vote of 10 to 1; Representative Thomas was recorded as the sole no vote.

Chairman Deal said the panel will continue conversations about how the amendment should be construed to ensure it does not unintentionally affect private supplemental coverage, and reiterated that, as drafted, workers’ compensation is intended to make an injured claimant whole in sharing with existing coverage.

The committee also noted that there would be no vote on House Bill 17-89 at this meeting and confirmed its next meeting date. With no further business, the chair adjourned the meeting.