Bill Summary for Bill Number HB06-1055

Date: 02/06/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1055

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment I). The motion Moved to refer House Bill 06-1055, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection PASS

07:04 PM -- House Bill 06-1055

Representative Coleman, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 1055 is a workers' compensation bill that deals with mental impairment. She stated that the current statute entitles a person who suffers mental impairment to receive twelve weeks of medical impairment benefits unless the person is a victim of a crime of violence. Representative Coleman stated that there has been some concern over the meaning of crime, so the bill would change the language in the statute from "a crime" to "an act" of violence. She explained that proposed amendment L.001 would address concerns about the perpetrator's intent (Attachment I).

07:06 PM -- John Berry, representing the Colorado Workers' Compensation Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill but in support of the bill with the amendment. He stated that the amendment leaves in the term "crime of violence" and adds without regard of the intent of the perpetuator of the crime. Mr. Berry explained that many people have not received benefits because they could not prove intent.

07:07 PM -- Doug Phillips, an attorney who represents injured workers, testified. He explained that a person can receive up to twelve weeks of impairment benefits under workers' compensation if there is a physical injury that causes that impairment. Mr. Phillips mentioned that there is one exception to that rule, and that is if the person was injured as a result of a crime of violence. He gave some examples of clients he had in the past who were denied the benefits because they could not prove the perpetrator had the intent to harm them.

07:10 PM -- Virginia Morrison Love, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in support of the bill.

07:10 PM -- Mike Steiner, representing Pinnacol Assurance, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	HB06-1055
TIME:	07:11:14 PM
MOVED:	Coleman
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment I). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	McCluskey
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Borodkin
	Butcher
	Carroll M.
	Coleman
	Knoedler
	Liston
	McCluskey
	Paccione
	Penry
	Welker
	Cerbo
	Marshall
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB06-1055
TIME:	07:11:35 PM
MOVED:	Coleman
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 06-1055, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 12-0.
SECONDED:	McCluskey
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	Yes
	Butcher	Yes
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Coleman	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	McCluskey	Yes
	Paccione	Excused
	Penry	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	Cerbo	Yes
	Marshall	Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS