TIP OF THE WEEK

 

                                                                    April 4, 2008

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Legislative Update - Missouri

 

Lawmakers Move Closer on 'Schoemehl' Repeal.  A Missouri House committee approved legislation to strike the Schoemehl decision, in which the Missouri Supreme Court held that survivors of injured workers could continue to collect disability benefits after an injured worker dies of causes not related to the injury.

That decision has been cited as a factor in the projected insolvency of the Second Injury fund.  But while it appears lawmakers will effectively reverse the Supreme Court's decision questions remain on what other steps lawmakers will take to shore up the solvency of the fund.

Senate Bill 901 by Sen. John Loudon, R-Chesterfield, would eliminate the court's ruling in Schoemehl v. Treasurer of the State of Missouri, and now is ready to be considered by the House of Representatives.

The bill was approved on the Senate's consent calendar, a procedure used for measures deemed noncontroversial.  SB 901 was approved Wednesday by the House Special Committee on Workforce Development and Workplace Safety.

On Tuesday the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industrial Relations Committee recommended passage of SB 1164.  SB 1164 has been described as providing an “emergency remedy” for the Second Injury Fund, where expenditures have risen from $10.6 million in 1993 to $72.7 million in 2007.  Revenues have not kept pace.

Loudon’s proposal would discontinue permanent total disability payments when an injured worker is able to compete for employment in the job market or when he/she returns to work.  In addition, the bill would require that dependents no longer receive compensation for permanent total disability for the remainder of their lives upon the death of the injured employee.  Another provision of the proposed legislation includes discontinuing permanent partial disability payments from the fund when another state has jurisdiction over the injury. 


A decision by lawmakers is expected before the end of April.

To read more about the bills mentioned above please visit:  http://www.moga.state.mo.us/.

 


To learn more about services OHS-COMPCARE has to offer, contact our Client Services Team at (816) 561-2105 option 1 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com.  You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.

 

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