S.B. No. 1895
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the assessment of administrative penalties under the
  Texas Workers' Compensation Act.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 415.021, Labor Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  In assessing an administrative penalty:
               (1)  the commissioner shall consider:
                     (A)  the seriousness of the violation, including
  the nature, circumstances, consequences, extent, and gravity of the
  prohibited act;
                     (B)  the history and extent of previous
  administrative violations;
                     (C)  the demonstrated good faith of the violator,
  including actions taken to rectify the consequences of the
  prohibited act;
                     (D)  the penalty necessary to deter future
  violations; [and]
                     (E)  whether the administrative violation has
  negative impact on the delivery of benefits to an injured employee;
                     (F)  the history of compliance with electronic
  data interchange requirements; and
                     (G)  other matters that justice may require; and
               (2)  the commissioner shall, to the extent reasonable,
  consider the economic benefit resulting from the prohibited act.
         (c-1)  The commissioner shall adopt rules that require the
  division, in the assessment of an administrative penalty against a
  person, to communicate to the person information about the penalty,
  including:
               (1)  the relevant statute or rule violated;
               (2)  the conduct that gave rise to the violation; and
               (3)  the factors considered in determining the penalty.
         SECTION 2.  Section 415.021(c), Labor Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an administrative violation that occurs
  on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  The commissioner of workers' compensation shall
  adopt rules under Section 415.021(c-1), Labor Code, as added by
  this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this
  Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1895 passed the Senate on
  April 26, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1895 passed the House on
  May 17, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor