by Alissa C. Atkins, Esq.

This Friday, March 13, 2015, is Crossover Day at the legislature, which generally means a flurry of activity in the General Assembly. The latest workers’ compensation bill, still known as HB 412, made it out of the Labor and Industry committee last month and was passed by the House on March 4th. The bill was read and referred in the Senate on March 5th. We have every reason to anticipate that the bill will also pass the Senate within the remaining 10 days of the 2015-2016 regular session. The current version of HB 412 includes a potential adjustment to the exclusive remedy provision for those employers who agree in writing to provide specific additional rights and remedies. The bill also increases the maximum TTD and TPD rates by $25 per week, to $550 and $375 respectively, revises deadlines and procedures for the dissolution of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, and increases income benefits to a surviving spouse in certain death claims.

We will update you at the close of the session or if the bill is signed into law. For those who are interested in reading more, the full text of the current version of the bill with revisions can be found here.