Quote of the day
"If the benefits are there, they should go to the family."
Republican Texas Sen. Mike Jackson, about a bill that would award some workers' comp death benefits to parents whose adult children die in workplace accidents without leaving behind dependents.
Note to our subscribers: In observance of Memorial Day, the Workers’ Comp Executive News Digest will not publish on Monday, May 28, 2007. Our regular schedule will resume Tuesday, May 29, 2007.
Simple Steps Can Guard Against Ruinous Insurance Scams
A successful insurance scam recently caused a Quartz Hill and Lancaster restaurant owner to unknowingly operate without workers’ compensation insurance for nearly a year. Protecting a small business from insurance scammers requires a few simple steps that small business owners must know. By Cyndia Zwahlen, Los Angeles Times
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Victorville Contractors Join to Promote Compliance
In an effort to educate Victorville residents and businesses on the perils of working with unlicensed contractors, local business leaders are organizing the High Desert Contractors Association to promote ethical practices and quality work. By Mitch Deacon, Victorville Daily Press [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
Lone Star Lawmakers Approve Death Benefits Bill
The Texas Legislature approves a bill that for the first time would award some workers’ compensation death benefits to parents whose adult children die in workplace accidents without leaving behind dependents. By Lise Olsen, Houston Chronicle [With Photo] Go to the Full Story…
Compromise the Result of Ballot Threat, Says Arizona Legislator
Arizona House Majority Whip John McComish has a simple, non-verbal way to explain why business interests and their legislative allies caved into labor groups’ demands for higher workers’ compensation payments: He holds up his hand, stretches out two fingers to form a gun, and puts them against his head. By Howard Fischer, Arizona Republic
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Commentary: Connecticut Bill Is Bad Public Policy
The Connecticut General Assembly is considering an increase in aid to the state’s strapped cities and towns, but that won’t be possible if a bill passes to provide special workers’ compensation benefits to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel, without requiring them to prove that certain ailments are work-related. Hartford Courant
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Commentary: Transfer from Comp Fund Might Milk Dairy State of Doctors
Wisconsin could be in for a serious physician shortage, which might significantly reduce access to specialty care and increase the cost of medical services for state residents. Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed transferring nearly $175 million from the state’s Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund in order to help balance the state budget and pay for new programs. By John Brill, M.D., via West Salem Coulee News
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Missouri Chamber: Corrective Legislation Could Save $160M
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce criticizes a state lawmaker for blocking legislation intended to correct problems with Missouri’s second injury fund, even though they agree a recent Missouri Supreme Court decision turned the fund into the equivalent of a life insurance program. By John Hacker, Carthage Press
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Maryland: Mold Award on Hold
The Maryland Supreme Court puts on hold a workers’ compensation award for mold-related injuries suffered by six church employees, due to admissibility concerns over an expert witness’s testimony. The church’s workers’ comp insurer calls the testimony “anecdotal.” By Barbara Grzincic, Maryland Daily Record
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