Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant revisions to the workers' compensation benefits structure in Montana by removing the existing cap that limits benefits to the state's average weekly wage. Instead, the bill introduces a new maximum benefit of $2,885 per week, which will apply to various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including sections 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, and 39-71-721. The bill also clarifies that all weekly compensation benefits must be based on the elected wages of the employer, subject to this new cap. Additionally, it amends definitions and eligibility criteria for different categories of workers, ensuring that compensation for certain workers, such as volunteer emergency care providers, is calculated based on their volunteer hours.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new guidelines for workers suffering from permanent total or partial disabilities, allowing those who are permanently totally disabled to receive benefits for the duration of their disability at a rate of 66 2/3% of their wages at the time of injury, capped at $2,885 per week. It also specifies that the determination of permanent total disability must be supported by objective medical findings. For beneficiaries of deceased employees, the bill ensures they receive weekly benefits of 66 2/3% of the decedent's wages, also capped at $2,885 per week, while removing previous references to the state's average weekly wage as a limit. Overall, these changes aim to provide clearer guidelines and potentially increased benefits for injured workers and their families.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_1(1): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_1(2): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_1(3): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_1(4): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_1(5): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_1: 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(1): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(2): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(3): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(4): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(5): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(6): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(7): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(8): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2(9): 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721
SB0308_2: 39-71-118, 39-71-701, 39-71-702, 39-71-703, 39-71-721