Workers who, in the course of employment, are injured or disabled from an occupational disease are entitled to workers' compensation benefits, which may include medical, temporary time-loss, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and permanent disabilities benefits.  Occupational disease means a "disease or infection as arises naturally and proximately out of employment under the mandatory or elective adoption provisions of this title."  The Department of Labor and Industries administers the state's workers' compensation system. 

The monthly wages the worker was receiving from all employment at the time of injury is the basis upon which compensation is computed.  In cases where a wage has not been fixed or cannot be reasonably and fairly determined, the monthly wage is computed on the basis of the usual wage paid other employees engaged in like or similar occupations where the wages are fixed. 

For purposes of minimum wage laws, the term employee does not include any resident, inmate, or patient of a state, county, or municipal correctional, detention, treatment or rehabilitative institution.

The monthly wage for workers' compensation purposes for any resident, inmate, or patient of a state, county, or municipal correctional, detention, treatment or rehabilitative institution must be computed on the basis of the usual wage paid other employees engaged in like or similar occupations where the wages are fixed.  Other employees do not include any resident, inmate, or patient of a state, county, or municipal correctional, detention, treatment or rehabilitative institution.

By December 1, 2024, the Department of Labor and Industries must submit a report to the Legislature that details the number of claims which were impacted by this act from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024.