84R6253 KKR-D

By: Oliveira H.B. No. 2587

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study regarding employers who do not participate in and injured employees who are not covered under the workers' compensation system.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) The workers' compensation research and evaluation group of the division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance shall conduct a study to:

(1) identify in which industries employers tend to elect to not participate in the workers' compensation system;

(2) determine the reasons the employers involved in the industries identified in Subdivision (1) of this subsection elect to not participate in the workers' compensation system; and

(3) determine the extent to which injured employees whose employers elect to not participate in the workers' compensation system rely on public benefits to:

(A) receive treatment and rehabilitation for their injuries; and

(B) replace lost income while unable to return to work due to their injuries.

(b) The division may require an employer that elects to not participate in the workers' compensation system to submit information to the division as necessary to complete the study under Subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The commissioner of workers' compensation shall submit a report containing the findings of the study required under Subsection (a) of this section to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the legislature not later than September 1, 2016.

SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2016.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 Amend House Bill No. 2587, on page 1, line 22, after "system" and before "to" by inserting "or does not offer an alternative occupational benefit plan". Simmons COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 2 Amend House Bill No. 2587 on Page 2, line 1, by striking subsection (c) and substituting the following:

(c) On request by the workers' compensation research and evaluation group, the Texas Workforce Commission, Health and Human Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, and the Texas Health Care Information Council shall provide information to the group or otherwise assist the group in preparing the report.

(d) The commissioner of workers' compensation shall submit a report containing the findings of the study required under Subsection (a) of this section to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the legislature not later than December 1, 2016. Simmons