Compliance July 7, 2009

Jindal Rebufs Workers' Comp Bill

July 7, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has turned aside legislation that would have given employees hurt on the job three years rather than 24 months to submit a workers' compensation benefits claim.
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Jindal said in a veto message that House Bill 658 would have cost private sector employers about $7.9 million annually.

The governor said the bill was supposed to have applied to developmental disability claims involving workers who return to work after an accident and continue to receive care, but do not require surgery until more than two years later. But the final version would have been applied to the whole system, Jindal complained.

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“By applying to all delayed-injury claims, this provision would have an unacceptable impact on the setting of reserves and the costs of premiums and litigation for employers and insurers,” Jindal wrote in his veto letter.

Jindal said he was asked to turn down the bill by:

  • the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation,
  • the Louisiana Association of Self-Insured Employers,
  • the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America,
  • the Louisiana Restaurant Association Self Insurer’s Fund, and
  • LUBA Workers’ Compensation. 

The veto letter is  here .

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