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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the workers' compensation death benefits paid to the |
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beneficiaries of certain state service members killed in the line |
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of duty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 408.181(b), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Subject to Sections [Section] 408.061 and 408.1811, the |
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amount of a death benefit is equal to 75 percent of the employee's |
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average weekly wage. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 408, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 408.1811 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 408.1811. ADDITIONAL LUMP-SUM PAYMENT TO |
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BENEFICIARIES OF TEXAS MILITARY FORCES. (a) In this section, |
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"state militia member" means a member of the state militia, as |
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defined by Section 431.001, Government Code. |
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(b) In addition to any other benefits to which a beneficiary |
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is entitled under this subchapter, the insurance carrier shall pay |
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an additional $100,000 to the beneficiary of a state militia member |
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killed while: |
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(1) on state active duty; |
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(2) on state training or other duty; or |
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(3) traveling to or from the member's duty location. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on a |
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compensable injury that occurs on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A claim based on a compensable injury that occurs before |
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that date is governed by the law as it existed on the date the |
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compensable injury occurred, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |