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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of lifetime income benefits under the |
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workers' compensation system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 408.161, Labor Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Lifetime income benefits are paid until the death of the |
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employee for: |
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(1) total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes; |
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(2) loss of both feet at or above the ankle; |
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(3) loss of both hands at or above the wrist; |
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(4) loss of one foot at or above the ankle and the loss |
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of one hand at or above the wrist; |
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(5) an injury to the spine that results in permanent |
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and complete paralysis of both arms, both legs, or one arm and one |
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leg; |
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(6) a physically traumatic injury to the brain |
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resulting in incurable insanity or imbecility; [or] |
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(7) third degree burns that cover at least 40 percent |
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of the body and require grafting, or third degree burns covering the |
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majority of either both hands or one hand and the face; or |
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(8) a whole body impairment that: |
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(A) is rated 85 percent or greater based on |
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"Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment," sixth edition, |
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published by the American Medical Association, or a subsequent |
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edition of those guides; and |
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(B) is the result of compensable injuries |
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suffered in a single incident. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |