BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 458

80R5441 PB-F                                                                                                                  By: Watson

State Affairs

2/23/2007

As Filed

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 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. 

S.B. 458 ensures 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.