5378-S AMS KEIS S1722.1

SSB 5378 - S AMD 103

By Senators Keiser, Franklin

NOT ADOPTED 03/12/2003

On page 3, beginning on line 30, after "nature;" strike all material through "nature;" on line 31

On page 3, after line 37, insert the following:

"(d) Medical, dental, and vision benefits provided in part or entirely by the worker's employer at the time of injury or disease manifestation shall be included as wages under this subsection. The amount and value of these wages is fixed as of the date the worker applies for benefits under this title. For claims filed on or after the effective date of this act, the value of these wages is fixed at four hundred fifty-seven dollars per month.

(i) The fixed value of the medical, dental, and vision benefits under this subsection shall be adjusted annually on July 1st to reflect changes in the prior calendar year average of the medical portion of the national consumer price index for all urban consumers. This adjusted figure shall only be used to determine the value of these benefits for new claims filed by workers after the date of adjustment.

(ii) The amount and value of medical, vision, and dental insurance under this subsection shall not be added to the worker's wages for any period in which the worker continues to receive the same level of medical, vision, and dental insurance that were provided to the worker at the time of the injury or disease manifestation from any past or current employment with any employer."

EFFECT: Includes a simplified value of health benefits in determination of a worker's wages.

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