FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1248

                         C 521 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating the increase of industrial insurance death and disability benefits.

By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives King, Heavey, Franklin, Orr, Jones, G. Cole, Veloria and Johanson).

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce

Background:  The amount of workers' compensation total disability or death benefits paid monthly to injured workers or beneficiaries is based on a percentage of the worker's wage at injury.  The percentage varies from 60 percent to 70 percent depending on the marital status of the worker and the number of children.  The maximum amount is limited to 100 percent of the state average monthly wage.

In 1972, the National Commission on State Workmen's Compensation Laws recommended that the maximum total disability benefit should be progressively increased, so that by 1981 the maximum weekly benefit in each state would be at least 200 percent of the state's average weekly wage.  The commissioners also identified, as an essential recommendation, a proposal that states should have a maximum weekly benefit of 100 percent of the state average weekly wage by 1975.

Summary:  The maximum amount payable monthly to an injured worker for total disability or to the worker's beneficiary for death benefits is increased from 100 percent of the state average monthly wage to the following percentage of the state average monthly wage:

PercentEffective date

105July 1, 1993

110July 1, 1994

115July 1, 1995

120July 1, 1996

Votes on Final Passage:

House  60 38

Senate 26 19 (Senate amended)

House  56 41 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 1, 1993