House Bill No. 6863, also known as Public Act No. 25-12, addresses deficiency appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and outlines compensation for injured employees and the parents of deceased employees under the Workers' Compensation Act. The bill appropriates funds from various sources, including $650,000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $284 million for Medicaid, and $40.6 million for the Department of Correction. It also includes reductions in appropriations for certain agencies, such as a $5 million cut for the Office of Legislative Management and a $4.55 million reduction for the Department of Revenue Services. New legal language inserted into the bill specifies funding amounts and agency designations, while deletions reflect reductions in previously allocated funds.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the compensation structure for injured employees by repealing and substituting certain provisions regarding compensation for specific injuries. It establishes a new framework for calculating benefits based on average weekly earnings and injury severity, mandating that compensation for permanent partial loss of use be awarded based on the proportion of total loss found. The bill also creates a working group to study rehabilitation services for injured employees, with a requirement to submit reports by February 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027. Additionally, it amends Section 31-308a to allow supplemental benefits for employees engaged in vocational rehabilitation, removing previous restrictions on additional benefits and specifying that they can be awarded for up to sixty weeks.

Statutes affected:
Public Act No. 25-12: 31-308a