Signed by Governor Paul LePage

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that revises the worker's compensation system.

Highlights:

• Increases the maximum benefit level from 90 percent to 100 percent of the state’s weekly average wage or $441, whichever is higher, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Sec. 3).

• Limits worker’s eligibility for compensation to 520 weeks if the incapacity for work is partial due to an injury occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Sec. 7).

• Reduces the weekly compensation an employer must pay a totally incapacitated employee or dependents of a totally incapacitated or deceased employee from 80 percent of their after-tax weekly wage to 66.33 percent of their after-tax weekly wage for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Secs. 4, 5, 12 & 13).

• Authorizes an employer, insurer, or group of insurers to discontinue or reduce benefits to an employee after having the matter resolved by a decree issued by a hearing officer, but prior to receiving a motion for findings of fact and conclusions of law or an appeal from that decree, whereas in existing law benefits cannot be reduced or discontinued until the appeal proceeding had been completed and an order of discontinuance or reduction had been entered by the Workers' Compensation Board (Sec. 2).

• Reduces the number of days employees have to submit a claim of injury from 90 days to 30 days after the date of the injury for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Sec. 16).

• Authorizes employees to appeal decisions made by hearing officers within 20 days after receiving notice that the hearing officer has filed a decision (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that revises the worker's compensation system.

Highlights:

• Increases the maximum benefit level from 90 percent to 100 percent of the state’s weekly average wage or $441, whichever is higher, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Sec. 3).

• Limits worker’s eligibility for compensation to 520 weeks if the incapacity for work is partial due to an injury occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Sec. 7).

• Reduces the weekly compensation an employer must pay a totally incapacitated employee or dependents of a totally incapacitated or deceased employee from 80 percent of their after-tax weekly wage to 66.33 percent of their after-tax weekly wage for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Secs. 4, 5, 12 & 13).

• Authorizes an employer, insurer, or group of insurers to discontinue or reduce benefits to an employee after having the matter resolved by a decree issued by a hearing officer, but prior to receiving a motion for findings of fact and conclusions of law or an appeal from that decree, whereas in existing law benefits cannot be reduced or discontinued until the appeal proceeding had been completed and an order of discontinuance or reduction had been entered by the Workers' Compensation Board (Sec. 2).

• Reduces the number of days employees have to submit a claim of injury from 90 days to 30 days after the date of the injury for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013 (Sec. 16).

• Authorizes employees to appeal decisions made by hearing officers within 20 days after receiving notice that the hearing officer has filed a decision (Sec. 20).

Full Bill Text