Senate Bill 1981 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to workers' compensation, primarily focusing on the rights of employees and their families in cases of death caused by employer negligence or criminal conduct. A new subsection (d) is added to Section 50-6-108, allowing employees' personal representatives, dependents, or next of kin to pursue civil actions for damages in cases of death resulting from gross negligence or criminal conduct by the employer or associated parties. This provision ensures that such actions do not interfere with the benefits payable under the workers' compensation system, although any compensation received must be credited against any civil recovery. Additionally, definitions for "criminal conduct" and "gross negligence" are provided to clarify the terms used in this context.

The bill also makes several changes to the compensation percentages and processes outlined in Section 50-6-207, increasing the percentage of benefits from sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66%) to seventy-five percent (75%) in multiple instances. It introduces new provisions allowing employees to seek permanent total disability benefits even after receiving an original award, ensuring that prior awards do not limit future claims for total disability. Furthermore, it modifies the penalties for wrongful denial of claims, increasing the penalty percentage from twenty percent (20%) to twenty-five percent (25%). Overall, the bill aims to enhance the rights of injured workers and their families while clarifying the processes for seeking benefits under the workers' compensation system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 50-6-108, 50-6-112, 50-6-207(1)(A), 50-6-207, 50-6-207(2)(A), 50-6-207(2)(B), 50-6-207(3), 50-6-207(3)(A), 50-6-207(3)(B), 50-6-207(4)(A)(i), 50-6-207(4), 50-6-226(a)(1), 50-6-226, 50-6-226(d)(1)