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First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. 97­0384.01 DHG SENATE BILL 97­139

STATE OF COLORADO

BY SENATOR Norton;

also REPRESENTATIVE Dyer.

STATE, VETERANS &

MILITARY AFFAIRS

REENGROSSED

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING THE REESTABLISHMENT OF AN EXCLUSIVE SCHEDULE FOR PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF BENEFITS RECEIVED UNDER THE SCHEDULE.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments which may be subsequently adopted.)

Increases the permanent partial disability benefit from $150 per week to $175 per week. Allows an annual increase or decrease in this figure based on the state average weekly wage. Where an injury causes a loss set out on the scheduled injuries schedule and a loss set out in the medical impairment benefit schedule, provides that each loss will be compensated solely on the basis of the respective schedule.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  8­42­107 (6) and (7), Colorado Revised Statutes, 1986 Repl. Vol., as amended, are amended to read:

8­42­107.  Permanent partial disability benefits ­ schedule ­ medical impairment benefits ­ how determined. (6) (a)  The amounts specified in subsections (1) to (5) of this section shall be at the compensation rate of one hundred fifty SEVENTY­FIVE dollars per week.

(b)  ON JULY 1, 1998, AND ON EACH SUCCEEDING JULY 1 THEREAFTER, THE COMPENSATION RATE ESTABLISHED IN THIS SUBSECTION (6) SHALL BE MODIFIED BY THE SAME PERCENTAGE INCREASE OR DECREASE AS THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE AS DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR WHEN THE DIRECTOR ESTABLISHES THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE PURSUANT TO SECTION 8­47­106.

(7) (a)  When an injured employee sustains two or more injuries coming under this schedule, the disabilities specified in subsections (1) to (5) of this section shall be added, and the injured employee shall receive the sum total thereof; except that, where the injury results in the loss or partial loss of use of the index finger and thumb of the same hand or of more than two digits of any one hand or foot, the disability, in the discretion of the director, may be compensated on the basis of the partial loss of use of said hand or foot, measured respectively from the wrist or ankle.

(b) (I)  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS, DETERMINES, AND DECLARES THAT THE RATING ORGANIZATION THAT STUDIED THE IMPACT OF THE CHANGES IN SENATE BILL 91­218, ENACTED AT THE FIRST REGULAR SESSION OF THE FIFTY­EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ASSUMED THAT SCHEDULED INJURIES WOULD REMAIN ON THE SCHEDULE, AND NONSCHEDULED INJURIES WOULD BE COMPENSATED AS MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT BENEFITS. THEREFORE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS, DETERMINES, AND DECLARES THAT THE PURPOSE OF CHANGING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH (b) AS AMENDED BY SENATE BILL 97­139, ENACTED AT THE FIRST REGULAR SESSION OF THE SIXTY­FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IS TO CLARIFY THAT SCHEDULED INJURIES SHALL BE COMPENSATED AS PROVIDED ON THE SCHEDULE, AND NONSCHEDULED INJURIES SHALL BE COMPENSATED AS MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT BENEFITS, AND THAT, WHEN AN INJURED WORKER SUSTAINS BOTH SCHEDULED AND NONSCHEDULED INJURIES, THE LOSSES SHALL BE COMPENSATED ON THE SCHEDULE FOR SCHEDULED INJURIES AND THE NONSCHEDULED INJURIES SHALL BE COMPENSATED AS MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT BENEFITS. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER DETERMINES AND DECLARES THAT MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL STRESS SHALL BE COMPENSATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8­41­301 (2) AND SHALL NOT BE COMBINED WITH A SCHEDULED INJURY IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE CLAIMANT TO RECEIVE MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT BENEFITS.

(b) (II)  Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section, where an injury causes the loss of, loss of use of, or partial loss of use of any member specified in the foregoing schedule, the amount of permanent partial disability shall be the proportionate share of the amount stated in the above schedule for the total loss of a member, and such amount shall be in addition to compensation for temporary disability. WHERE AN INJURY CAUSES A LOSS SET FORTH IN THE SCHEDULE IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION AND A LOSS SET FORTH FOR MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT BENEFITS IN SUBSECTION (8) OF THIS SECTION, THE LOSS SET FORTH IN THE SCHEDULE FOUND IN SAID SUBSECTION (2) SHALL BE COMPENSATED SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF SUCH SCHEDULE AND THE LOSS SET FORTH IN SAID SUBSECTION (8) SHALL BE COMPENSATED SOLELY ON THE BASIS FOR SUCH MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT BENEFITS SPECIFIED IN SAID SUBSECTION (8).

(III)  MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL STRESS SHALL BE COMPENSATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8­41­301 (2) AND SHALL NOT BE COMBINED WITH A SCHEDULED INJURY IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE CLAIMANT TO RECEIVE MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT BENEFITS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (8) OF THIS SECTION.

SECTION 2.  Effective date ­ applicability. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997, and shall apply to injuries occurring on or after said date.

SECTION 3.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.