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Committee considers bill allowing labor commission to adjust future-fee arrangements in long-term workers' comp cases
Summary
Representative Rudy Beaton told the committee HB 3072 would let the Industrial Labor Commission rearrange attorney-fee arrangements in closed awards with ongoing medical needs when an attorney retires or dies, ensuring injured workers continue to have representation; sponsors said the bill does not change benefits.
Representative Rudy Beaton (59th District) presented House Bill 3,072, explaining the measure addresses a narrow gap in the Industrial Labor Commission's authority. Under current practice, an award that includes future attorney fees is part of a closed case; if the attorney retires or dies, there is no clear statutory mechanism to rearrange fee agreements so a new lawyer can be paid for future work.
"This bill allows the Industrial Labor Commission, if the employee wants it and the lawyer agrees to step away, to handle fee arrangements," Beaton said, describing the change as a fix to an oversight. Committee members clarified that the proposal does not modify underlying benefits or create new awards, but rather provides authority to adjust how future payments for services are allocated so injured workers can continue receiving medical follow-up and representation.
No witnesses in favor or opposition registered on the transcript for HB 3,072. The public hearing on the bill concluded after Q&A.
Ending
The committee recorded the technical explanation and closed the hearing; no committee vote on HB 3,072 is recorded in the transcript.
