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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for lifetime income benefits under the |
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workers' compensation system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 408.161(a), Labor Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Lifetime income benefits are paid until the death of the |
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employee for: |
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(1) total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes; |
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(2) loss of both feet at or above the ankle; |
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(3) loss of both hands at or above the wrist; |
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(4) loss of one foot at or above the ankle and the loss |
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of one hand at or above the wrist; |
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(5) an injury to the spine that results in permanent |
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and complete paralysis of both arms, both legs, or one arm and one |
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leg; |
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(6) a physically traumatic injury to the brain |
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resulting in the person having an incurable mental illness or |
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intellectual disability [insanity or imbecility]; [or] |
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(7) third degree burns that cover at least 40 percent |
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of the body and require grafting, or third degree burns covering the |
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majority of either both hands or one hand and the face; or |
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(8) adhesive arachnoiditis. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a claim for lifetime income benefits based on a compensable |
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injury that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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claim based on a compensable injury that occurs before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the compensable injury occurred, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |