This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding workers' compensation death benefits, specifically increasing the burial expenses covered from $5,000 to $10,000. The current law states that burial expenses are not to exceed five thousand dollars, which would be replaced with the new amount of more than $10,000. Additionally, the bill makes various technical changes to the language used in the statute, such as updating percentages from "per cent" to "percent" and clarifying age references for dependents.

Furthermore, the bill retains the existing structure of benefits for surviving spouses, children, parents, and siblings, while making minor adjustments to the language for clarity. For instance, it specifies that benefits for children will continue until they reach the age of eighteen or twenty-two if they are full-time students, and it clarifies the conditions under which benefits cease. The bill also addresses funeral expenses for dependents, increasing the limit from eight hundred dollars to more than $800. Overall, the proposed changes aim to modernize the language and increase the financial support available for burial expenses in the event of a workplace-related death.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 23-1046
Senate Engrossed Version: 23-1046