| News News Archive  Email A Friend
April 15, 2024
Colorado Worker Shows Head Injury Happened as a Consequence of a Knock on the Head at Work April 4, 2024
Callfornia Division of Workers' Compensation Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Meeting Scheduled for April 17, 2024 April 3, 2024
California Division of Workers' Compensation Posts Adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule (DMEPOS) April 2, 2024
California Division of Workers' Compensation Posts Adjustments to Official Medical Fee Schedule for Pathology and Clinical Laboratory
| | Tennessee House of Representatives Approves New Workers’ Compensation Court Panel System
By Lonce LaMon - April 16, 2013
The Tennessee House of Representatives approved late last week Governor Bill Haslam’s bill to create a workers’ compensation panel court system under the control of the state government executive branch which takes workers’ comp cases out of the trial courts and into a tribunal with judges approved by the governor. The Senate had already approved the bill, and now the Senate only has to agree to minor changes now that the House has given its approval, before the measure can head for the governor’s signature.
The chamber voted 68 to 24, almost entirely upon party lines, with a Republican majority. Democrats highlighted that the bill would grant all the power over the system to the executive branch without input or oversight from the Legislature.
Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, said the changes will jumpstart workers claims, removing uncertainty. “The process for resolving any disputes that they have will be streamlined, allowing these injured workers to receive compensation and return back to work or the classroom quicker. The employee will no longer have to go for such a long time without salary replacement while his or her case works its way through the court system,” he said.
Some democrats argued that the maximum allowable compensation under the bill would fall below the average benefits under the current law. Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville questioned whether speeding up the process would be beneficial to injured workers. “If the money is not enough to live on, (even) if you get it quicker, I don’t understand how that’s going to benefit the family,” she said.
Republican Rep. Jon Lundberg of Bristol said that the changes would bring the state into line with most of the states bordering Tennessee. “We have a disincentive for businesses to come to Tennessee,” Lundberg said. `”This helps level that playing field. Frankly I think this will put more workers to work.”
Rep. Brooks said changes are projected to cause a reduction in workers’ compensation insurance premiums for companies, though he acknowledged that the bill doesn’t address the costs of medical care. Democrats argued that proves that the savings will be derived from the decreased benefits.
All of the votes in favor of the bill came from Republicans plus Democratic Rep. Charles Curtiss of Sparta. All of the votes against the measure were cast by Democrats, who were joined by independent Rep. Kent Williams of Elizabethton.
|
__May11th2017.gif)
.gif)