Senate Bill No. by Senator Seabaugh proposes significant amendments to Louisiana's workers' compensation laws aimed at enhancing benefits for injured workers and their families. Key provisions include the introduction of additional medical opinions regarding an employee's condition, an increase in burial expense coverage from $8,000 to $12,500, and the establishment of temporary partial disability benefits. The bill also clarifies that benefits for temporary total disability will cease under specific conditions, such as when the employee reaches maximum medical improvement or is capable of self-employment. Additionally, the right to permanent total disability is capped at 450 weeks, and new vocational rehabilitation services are introduced to assist injured employees in returning to work.

The bill further revises the compensation structure for temporary partial disability, replacing the previous terminology of supplemental earnings benefits. It mandates that employers provide vocational rehabilitation services upon request and allows for a reduction in benefits if an employee does not cooperate with these services. The lump sum payment for surviving children and parents of deceased employees is increased from $75,000 to $100,000, ensuring fair compensation distribution among beneficiaries. The proposed changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2024, and aim to improve support for injured workers while streamlining the claims process.

Statutes affected:
SB315 Original: 23:1221(1), 23:1226(A), 23:1231(B)(2)