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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding employers who do not participate in |
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and injured employees who are not covered under the workers' |
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compensation system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The workers' compensation research and |
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evaluation group of the division of workers' compensation of the |
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Texas Department of Insurance shall conduct a study to: |
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(1) identify in which industries employers tend to |
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elect to not participate in the workers' compensation system; |
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(2) determine the reasons the employers involved in |
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the industries identified in Subdivision (1) of this subsection |
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elect to not participate in the workers' compensation system; and |
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(3) determine the extent to which injured employees |
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whose employers elect to not participate in the workers' |
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compensation system rely on public benefits to: |
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(A) receive treatment and rehabilitation for |
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their injuries; and |
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(B) replace lost income while unable to return to |
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work due to their injuries. |
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(b) The division may require an employer that elects to not |
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participate in the workers' compensation system to submit |
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information to the division as necessary to complete the study |
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under Subsection (a) of this section. |
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(c) The commissioner of workers' compensation shall submit |
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a report containing the findings of the study required under |
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Subsection (a) of this section to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate |
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standing committees of the legislature not later than September 1, |
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2016. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2016. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |