News Digest 3-4-2020

Quote of the day

“The employers and employees we cover in our system continue to experience fewer and less costly claims, so we’re happy to pass these savings along to our employer community.”

Ohio BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud

The Business Journal

 

 

 

Ohio BWC board approves third largest rate cut in 60 years for fiscal 2021

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s board of directors late last week approved a 13 percent rate reduction for the state’s private employers. The reduction marks BWC’s third largest rate cut in 60 years and becomes effective July 1, the start of Ohio’s fiscal year 2021. The Business Journal (Youngstown, Ohio)

 

New York WCB demands $55K from basketball academy

New York’s Workers’ Compensation Board is demanding $55,000 from a basketball training academy for allegedly defaulting on payment obligations. In addition to an overdue workers’ compensation bill, the New York State Department of Labor has two claims against the Endicott-based school for $14,000 in unpaid unemployment insurance. PressConnects

 

Oklahoma rep advocates for mental health resources for first responders

Oklahoma state Rep. Josh Westhas spent the last four years advocating to get first responders the mental health resources they need. Oklahoma House Bill 2271 would allow first responders to qualify for workers’ compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or other mental illness. News On 6 (Tulsa) [with video]

 

Minnesota school bus company failed to cover employees: Report

After an investigation found a Twin Cities-area school bus company was operating buses with safety issues including bad brakes and broken emergency doors, the company could face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for illegally operating without workers’ compensation insurance for more than three years. KSTP (St. Paul) [with video]

 

West Virginia approves proposal for intermediate appellate court

The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee on Friday approved a state senate proposal for a new intermediate court of appeals that would would divide the state into northern and southern districts and hear appeals of circuit court civil cases, guardianships and conservatorships, family court cases and decisions made by administrative law judges, the Health Care Authority and Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register