Workers’ compensation revisions advanced

A bill that would make changes relating to workers’ compensation advanced from general file May 4.

Sponsored by Omaha Sen. Burke Harr, LB480 was replaced by a committee amendment on a 27-0 vote. Harr said Nebraska’s workers’ compensation policies were last updated in 1995. The amendment contained provisions of four other bills.

Provisions of LB158, introduced by Omaha Sen. John McCollister, would deny benefits if an employee knowingly and willfully made false statements regarding his or her physical or medical condition by acknowledging that he or she is able to perform the essential functions of a job based on the employer’s job description.

Provisions of Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist’s LB363 would clarify that employees are not responsible for any finance charges or late penalty payments as a result of medical services rendered by a provider.

LB133, introduced by Crete Sen. Laura Ebke, would revise the interest rate applicable to an award of workers’ compensation benefits in which an attorney’s fee is permitted. The provisions would change the rate from 14 percent to a rate calculation of 6 percentage points above the bond investment yield, as published by the U.S. Secretary of Treasury. The current judgment interest rate is 2.137 percent.

LB600, also by Ebke, would expand the authority to invest trust assets held in irrevocable workers’ compensation trusts to allow for investments in the same manner as corporate trustees holding retirement or pension funds for governmental employees. If the assets fall below the acceptable amount required by the compensation court, the trustor would have to deposit additional assets to continue to satisfy the minimum security amounts required. The provisions would prohibit a trustee from investing assets into stocks, bonds or other obligations of the trustor.

Senators advanced the bill from general file on a 30-0 vote.