Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Labor & Workforce Development Committee |
HB 2025
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Freezing industrial insurance cost-of-living increases.
Sponsors: Representatives Springer and Sells.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 3/22/11
Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).
Background:
Under the state's industrial insurance laws, employers must insure through the State Fund administered by the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) or, if qualified, may self-insure. Workers injured in the course of employment or disabled from an occupational disease are entitled to benefits. Workers temporarily unable to work receive time-loss benefits. A worker who suffers specified catastrophic injuries or other condition permanently incapacitating the worker from performing any work at any gainful occupation is entitled to permanent total disability (TPD or also referred to as pension) benefits. The amount of the time-loss or TPD benefits is 60 to 75 percent of the worker's wages, depending on the worker's family status and number of dependents, and subject to minimum and maximum amounts. The survivors of a worker who died as a result of a workplace injury or disease are also entitled to benefits.
Workers and their survivors receive a cost-of-living adjustment on July 1 of each year. The adjustment is determined by multiplying the amount of the worker's compensation by a fraction. The denominator is the average monthly wage in the state for the fiscal year in which the person's right to compensation was established, and the numerator is the average monthly wage on July 1 of the adjustment year. The average monthly wage is determined by the Employment Security Department.
Summary of Bill:
No cost-of-living adjustment shall be made on July 1, 2011.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on March 19, 2011.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2011.