Senate Bill No. 324, introduced by Senator Reese, amends and reenacts several provisions of Louisiana's workers' compensation laws, specifically R.S. 23:1127, 1301, and 1306. The bill aims to enhance access to medical information related to workers' compensation claims, establish deadlines for reporting injuries, and impose penalties for non-compliance. Key provisions include a requirement for employees to sign and return an authorization form for the release of medical records within ten business days, with the consequence of benefit suspension for non-compliance. Additionally, the bill introduces a rebuttable presumption that an injury or death did not occur in the course of employment if notice is not provided to the employer within 30 days.

The bill also modifies the reporting requirements for employers following an injury or death. It mandates that employers submit a report to their workers' compensation insurer within ten days of receiving notice of an injury or death, detailing specific information about the incident and the employee. Failure to submit this report without good cause will result in a $500 penalty payable to the office of workers' compensation administration. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that submitting the required information does not constitute an admission of the occurrence or compensability of the alleged injury or death. The proposed changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
SB324 Original: