Revision: June 10, 2016, midnight
\t \t\tSB 409-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
20Apr2016... 1330h
06/01/2016 2106CofC
06/01/2016 2137EBA
2016 SESSION
\t16-2890
\t01/03
SENATE BILL\t409-FN
AN ACT\trelative to the first responder's critical injury benefit and establishing a committee to study soft tissue injuries for purposes of workers’ compensation permanent impairment awards.
SPONSORS:\tSen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Sen. Sanborn, Dist 9; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Rep. D. Sullivan, Hills. 42; Rep. Proulx, Hills. 44
COMMITTEE:\tCommerce
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
\tThis bill extends the prospective repeal of the first responder's critical injury benefit. This bill also establishes a committee to study soft tissue injuries for purposes of workers’ compensation permanent impairment awards.
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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Apr2016... 1330h
06/01/2016 2106CofC\t16-2890
06/01/2016 2137EBA\t01/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT\trelative to the first responder's critical injury benefit and establishing a committee to study soft tissue injuries for purposes of workers’ compensation permanent impairment awards.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 First Responder's Critical Injury Benefit. Amend RSA 281-A:32-a, II to read as follows:
\t\tII. Payments awarded under this section shall be subject to all other provisions of RSA 281-A. Total compensation payments for all additional compensation claims paid under this section shall not exceed $125,000 per claimant. No payments shall be made after July 1, [2016] 2018. Benefits paid under this section for all claimants shall not exceed $500,000.
\t2 Prospective Repeal Extended. Amend 2014, 242:4, I to read as follows:
\t\tI. Paragraph I of section 2 of this act shall take effect June 30, [2016] 2018.
\t3 Committee to Study Soft Tissue Injuries for Purposes of Workers' Compensation Permanent Impairment Awards Established.
\t\tI. There is established a committee to study soft tissue injuries for purposes of workers’ compensation permanent impairment awards.
\t\t\t(a) The members of the committee shall be as follows:
\t\t\t\t(1) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
\t\t\t\t(2) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
\t\t\t(b) Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
\t\tII. The committee shall study soft tissue injuries for purposes of workers’ compensation permanent impairment awards.
\t\tIII. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.
\t\tIV. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2016.
\t4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2890
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRevised 4/26/16
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmended 4/22/16
SB 409-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT\trelative to the first responder's critical injury benefit and establishing a committee to study soft tissue injuries for purposes of workers' compensation permanent impairment award.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2016-1330h), may increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2017. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue or on county and local expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill extends the prospective repeal of the first responders critical injury benefit from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Additionally, this bill establishes a committee to study soft tissue injuries for the purposes of workers compensation. Payments for the first responders critical injury benefit are drawn from the State general fund. RSA 281-A:32-a, II currently limits the total amount to be paid to all claimants to $500,000, with each claimant limited to a maximum of $125,000. To the extent the payments are made to qualifying first responders in FY 2017, state expenditures will increase. Total payments made pursuant to RSA 281-A:32-a, II is $125,000.
The Department of Labor states this bill will have no impact on its operations.