BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 458
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, artificial limbs are not treated by all workers' compensation carriers as a physical structure of the body. Therefore, an accident resulting in a broken leg would be treatable under worker's compensation, but the same accident causing injury to an artificial leg would not cover repair or replacement of the artificial leg. The goal of the worker's compensation system is to get workers healthy and back to work.
S.B. 458 ensures that workers' compensation carriers treat artificial limbs as natural limbs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 401.011, Labor Code, by amending Subdivision (19) to redefine "health care" and adding Subdivisions (34-a) and (35-a) to define "orthotic device" and "prosthetic device."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 1305.004(b), Insurance Code, to make conforming changes.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.