Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Vermont Senate Bill 23 Amended By Committee

The Senate Finance Committee took testimony on S. 23 which requires specific disclosures when reaching workers' compensation settlements where all, or some benefits are resolved on a full and final basis.  

The legislation included specific language that the document should include "the approximate amount of compensation the employer would be required to pay the employee if the parties did not enter into the agreement”.  

After testimony was given the bill was amended by striking all language in Section 1.b after the word "injury". The section now reads "describe the employee's injury, including any rating assigned to the injury."  

Here is the current version of the bill as amended:

(1) The employer provides the employee with a written disclosure explaining the consequences of the agreement with respect to the employee’s rights to future benefits by stating- 
      (a) the amount the claim has resolved for, 
      (b) a description of the employee’s injury, including any rating assigned to that injury and the approximate amount of compensation the employer would be required to pay the employee if the       parties did not enter into the agreement,
      (c) all benefits that will terminate as a result of the agreement and 
      (d) any rights to benefits that will be relinquished by the agreement; and


(2)  The employee signs the disclosure statement acknowledging that the employee is informed of and understands the terms of the agreement and its consequences.