The bill proposes to repeal the existing section 287.230 of the Missouri Revised Statutes and replace it with a new section that outlines the payment of workers' compensation benefits upon the death of an employee. The new language clarifies that the death of an injured employee does not affect the employer's liability to pay any accrued and unpaid compensation to the employee's dependents or personal representative. Notably, the bill expands the definition of "family member" to include various relatives such as adult children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and others, ensuring that compensation can be directed to a broader range of beneficiaries. Additionally, the bill specifies that if an employee entitled to compensation dies from causes unrelated to the injury for which they were compensated, only the unpaid unaccrued compensation will be paid to the surviving dependents. The legislation also explicitly rejects the legal precedent set by the case Schoemehl v. Treasurer of the State of Missouri, indicating a shift in the interpretation of workers' compensation laws in Missouri.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (4586H.01): 287.230