House Bill No. 1119, introduced by Representative Phelps, amends existing workers' compensation laws in Louisiana to address an employee's refusal to submit to medical examinations or cooperate with vocational rehabilitation. The bill stipulates that if an employee refuses to comply with a medical examination requested by the employer, their right to compensation may be suspended until the examination occurs, but only after an expedited hearing is conducted. This hearing must take place within 10 to 30 days of the employee receiving notice, and no pre-trial mediation is required. If the employee cannot demonstrate good cause for their refusal, the court will order the suspension of their compensation rights until the examination is completed.

Additionally, the bill modifies the process for handling disputes related to vocational rehabilitation. It allows employers to file motions to reduce weekly compensation by 50% for each week an employee refuses to cooperate with vocational rehabilitation, contingent upon a court finding that the refusal was unreasonable. The bill also revises the provisions regarding expedited summary proceedings, ensuring that certain disputes, including those related to medical examinations and vocational rehabilitation, are resolved more efficiently. Overall, the proposed changes aim to streamline the workers' compensation process and encourage compliance from employees regarding medical evaluations and rehabilitation efforts.

Statutes affected:
HB1119 Original: 23:1(K)(8), 23:1226(B)(3)