The bill proposes the repeal of sections 287.030 and 287.128 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) and enacts two new sections in their place, which address workers' compensation and include penalty provisions. The definition of "employer" is expanded to include various entities and specifies that construction industry employers must have five or more employees to be considered an employer under this chapter. Additionally, the bill clarifies that any reference to the employer also includes their insurer or group self-insurer. The new provisions establish strict penalties for fraudulent activities related to workers' compensation claims, including presenting false claims or refusing to comply with compensation obligations. Violations can result in class E felonies or class A misdemeanors, depending on the nature of the offense. The bill also introduces a fraud and noncompliance administrative unit within the division of workers' compensation to investigate such violations. Furthermore, it mandates that any complaints regarding fraud be investigated and allows for the attorney general to prosecute these cases, with all associated costs covered by the workers' compensation fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6239H.01): 287.030, 287.128