Texas House Bill HB2547

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/1/09
• Voted on by House: 5/7/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/19/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/26/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/28/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the use of a description of employment in determining the safety and appropriateness of a return to employment by an injured employee.

Impact

The legislation specifies that the described tasks do not equate to a formal job offer or an employer's insistence on the employee's return, clarifying the nature of the information shared. This separation is crucial to ensure that employees do not feel pressured to return prematurely to roles that may not align with their recovery process. The application of this bill is confined to employees with compensable injuries occurring after the law takes effect, thus having a forward-looking impact on workers' compensation claims.

Summary

House Bill 2547 introduces a provision concerning the responsibilities of employers in relation to injured employees seeking a return to work. Specifically, the bill states that employers with 75 or more employees must provide a description of the injured employee's job duties upon request from the injured employee's treating physician. This requirement aims to support the physician's assessment of whether it's safe for the employee to return to their previous role or employable tasks. By establishing clearer communication between employers and medical professionals, the bill seeks to facilitate a more timely and safe reintegration into the workforce.

Conclusion

Overall, HB2547 is a significant step towards enhancing the process for returning injured workers to employment, offering them better support through defined employer obligations. The law aims to balance the needs of the injured employees, healthcare providers, and employers in fostering a smoother reintegration into the workforce.

Contention

While the bill may be viewed positively in promoting efficient return-to-work practices and supporting the needs of injured workers, some critics may argue that the requirement places an additional bureaucratic burden on employers. There may be concerns regarding how some employers might respond to the expectations, particularly smaller businesses, and the potential for misunderstandings about the nature of the information requested by healthcare providers.