Date: 04/22/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-243

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-243 to the CommitteePASS


11:54 AM -- Senate Bill 09-243

Representative Riesberg, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-243, concerning payments for workers' compensation benefits. The committee heard testimony previously on April 14. The bill makes changes to workers' compensation insurance benefit procedures. The fee schedule for payment of benefits is extended to services delivered after any final order, final admission, or full or partial settlement of a claim. When determining the maximum amount of temporary and permanent partial disability payments a claimant is eligible to receive, the claimant's mental impairment rating must be combined with the physical impairment rating. Finally, payment for health care services is authorized for claims that are found to be compensable after initially being denied.

11:57 AM --
Bob Summers, Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, said the department is neutral on the bill. He pointed out a couple of issues in the bill with the fee schedule after a worker goes through the system and what happens when an employer does not designate a medical provider.


11:59 PM

John Sbarbaro, Cathy Wanstrath, and Doug Kotarek came to the table to testify together.

12:00 PM --
John Sbarbaro, President of the Workers' Compensation Education Association, testified in support of the bill. He said the bill clarifies that the fee schedule will apply to the workers compensation benefits, addresses mental impairment and returns the system to pre-2006 before the Supreme Court ruling that changed it.

12:03 PM --
Cathy Wanstrath, representing Pinnacol Assurance, testified in support of the bill. She explained that the bill only includes issues that the three groups agreed on.

12:04 PM --
Doug Kotarek, an attorney, representing the Colorado Self-Insurers Association, testified in support of the bill and talked about the discussions the groups had to reach an agreement on the bill.


12:06 PM

The three witnesses responded to questions from the committee.
BILL:SB09-243
TIME: 12:08:36 PM
MOVED:Soper
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-243 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 8-0-3.
SECONDED:Gagliardi
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Liston
Yes
Priola
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Scanlan
Excused
Soper
Yes
Stephens
Excused
Casso
Yes
Rice
Excused
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS