This bill amends the percentage of workers' compensation indemnity benefits for employees with temporary total disabilities and permanent partial disabilities. Specifically, it changes the weekly compensation rate from 60 66 2/3 percent of the employee's average weekly wage for those whose wages exceed 30 percent of the state's average weekly wage. For permanent partial disabilities, the compensation is similarly adjusted to 60 66 2/3 percent of the difference between the employee's average weekly wage before the injury and their post-injury earning capacity. The bill maintains the existing caps on compensation, ensuring that it does not exceed 150 percent of the state's average weekly wage or 100 percent of the employee's after-tax weekly earnings. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage and is expected to result in increased expenditures for the state and local political subdivisions due to higher weekly compensation payments. The exact financial impact is indeterminable and will depend on the number of claims filed and the average wage levels of affected employees. The Department of Labor has been consulted regarding the implications of this bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 281-A:28, 281-A:31-a
HB744 text: 281-A:28, 281-A:31-a