Honorable René Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB919 by Kacal (Relating to workers' compensation insurance coverage for certain intrastate fire mutual aid system team members and regional incident management team members.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Education Code to provide workers' compensation coverage under certain circumstances for an individual, other than an employee of The Texas A&M University System, who has been officially designated as a member of an intrastate fire mutual aid system team, or a regional incident management team, that is coordinated by the Texas A&M University System.
The bill would require the Texas A&M Forest Service to perform all the duties of an employer in relation to an intrastate fire mutual aid system team member or a regional incident management team member who is injured and receives benefits under the provisions of the bill.
The bill would also require the Texas Division of Emergency Management to reimburse the State Office of Risk Management for the actual medical and indemnity benefits paid on behalf of a covered member at the beginning of the next state fiscal year occurring after the date the benefits are paid.
It is assumed that any costs resulting from the payment of additional workers' compensation claims out of the Texas Department of Insurance's Subsequent Injury Fund can be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, the fiscal impact to counties to implement the provisions of the bill is not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 454 Department of Insurance, 479 State Office of Risk Management, 576 Texas A&M Forest Service