BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 458

                                                                                                                                         By: Watson

                                                                                                                           Business & Industry

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

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 workers' 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 workers' compensation system is to get workers healthy and back to work. 

 

Senate Bill 458 ensures workers' compensation carriers treat artificial limbs as natural limbs.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

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.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.