Quote of the day
"Improper termination of ongoing temporary total disability benefits is a source of much disruption and vexation to injured workers and those medical and vocational providers who seek to restore them to gainful employment."
Hawaii House Bill 854
Berkeley Senior Center Might Be Shuttered over Coverage Issue
A South Berkeley center that provides meals to low-income seniors could lose its city funding for failing to provide the city timely proof of its workers’ compensation insurance. By Kelly Fitzpatrick, Daily Californian (UC Berkeley)
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Hawaii Chamber Seeks Veto of Comp Bill
The Hawaii Legislature passes a bill mandating continuation of temporary total disability payments until a hearing and decision by the director of the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations. The Hawaii Chamber of Commerce says the bill will raise costs for affected employers and will seek a veto by Gov. Linda Lingle. Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
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N.D. Agency Chief Faces Criminal Charges
North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance Director Sandy Blunt faces criminal charges of misapplication of entrusted property and conspiracy to commit disclosure of confidential information, and the head of the agency’s special investigations unit faces a similar conspiracy charge in connection with a 2006 performance audit that found more than $18,000 in questionable spending by the agency. By Blake Nicholson, AP via the Forum (Fargo)
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Lone Star State Railroad Worker Files FELA Suit
A Texas railroad signal maintenance assistant files a Federal Employers’ Liability Act suit against Union Pacific for alleged workplace safety hazards connected to his back injury. Unlike state workers’ compensation law, FELA requires the injured worker to prove that the railroad was at least partially negligent in causing an injury. By Steve Gonzales, Southeast Texas Record
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Mascot Spreads Agency’s Message
Rhode Island is using an unorthodox mascot to spread its message of the importance of workers’ compensation insurance because according to Adelita Orefice, director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, “One of things that the government doesn’t do so well is get the word out about what people’s rights are regarding [workers’] compensation insurance.” By Jessica Selby, Kent County Daily Times
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Former BWC Investment Staff Accepted Bribes, Prosecutors Charge
Prosecutors charge three former members of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation investment staff with violating state ethics law, alleging that they accepted golf outings, travel, meals, and entertainment paid by firms doing business with the bureau. By James Drew and Steve Eder, Toledo Blade
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