Key workers' compensation laws enacted by States in 1985, (EXCERPT), Monthly Labor Review Online, January 1986

Key workers' compensation laws enacted by States in 1985

LaVerne C. Tinsley

All State legislatures convened in 1985, except for the Kentucky body.¹ As in the past, a myriad of workers' compensation proposals was introduced; 195 were enacted into law.²

Sixteen States amended their laws by establishing some form of coverage for police officers, firefighters, emergency service personnel, sole proprietors, and inmates.

Focus on increases in compensation for workers and their dependents brought about major revisions in benefit provisions. Alabama increased maximum weekly benefits for total disability and death to 100 percent (formerly 66 2/3 percent) of the State average weekly wage and the minimum to 27½ percent (previously 25 percent) of the State average weekly wage for all disability and death. Compensation for permanent partial disability was capped at $220. The 300-week maximum on payments for temporary total disability was removed. Benefits will now be payable for duration of disability. Tennessee established an escalation of maximum weekly compensation for disability and death from July 1, 1985, through June 30, 1990. North Dakota changed its minimum weekly compensation for death from $10 weekly to 50 percent of the maximum weekly benefit. Georgia and North Dakota extended the compensable period for death benefits for dependent children beyond age 18 until age 22 if they are full-time students.

This excerpt is from an article published in the January 1986 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. The full text of the article is available in Adobe Acrobat's Portable Document Format (PDF). See How to view a PDF file for more information.

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Footnotes

1 The legislatures of Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico convened in 1985, however, workers' compensation enactments were insignificant and are not discussed in the State-by-State summary or none were received. Kentucky was the only State that did not meet in 1985.

2 Legislative enactments received as of our reporting date.

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