The Senate has given first round approval to SB 668, a bill changing the rules regarding workers’ compensation. The major component of the legislation would put an end to the practice of paying unaccrued compensation for permanent total disability to the family of an employee upon the death of the injured employee.
Senator John Loudon (R-Chesterfield), the sponsor, points out the rules currently in effect came about as a result of a State Supreme Court decision involving a semi-retired injured worker, who had an accident and died. At the time of his death he was receiving money from the Second Injury Fund and the Supreme Court ruled the payments should continue.
One more positive vote in the Senate sends the legislation to the House. Loudon says the crux of the bill is that the definition of an employee will not include the dependents of injured workers.