84R6253 KKR-D
By: Oliveira H.B. No. 2587
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding employers who do not participate in
and injured employees who are not covered under the workers'
compensation system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) The workers' compensation research and
evaluation group of the division of workers' compensation of the
Texas Department of Insurance shall conduct a study to:
(1) identify in which industries employers tend to
elect to not participate in the workers' compensation system;
(2) determine the reasons the employers involved in
the industries identified in Subdivision (1) of this subsection
elect to not participate in the workers' compensation system; and
(3) determine the extent to which injured employees
whose employers elect to not participate in the workers'
compensation system rely on public benefits to:
(A) receive treatment and rehabilitation for
their injuries; and
(B) replace lost income while unable to return to
work due to their injuries.
(b) The division may require an employer that elects to not
participate in the workers' compensation system to submit
information to the division as necessary to complete the study
under Subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The commissioner of workers' compensation shall submit
a report containing the findings of the study required under
Subsection (a) of this section to the governor, lieutenant
governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate
standing committees of the legislature not later than September 1,
2016.
SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2016.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
Amend House Bill No. 2587, on page 1, line 22, after "system" and
before "to" by inserting "or does not offer an alternative
occupational benefit plan".
Simmons
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 2
Amend House Bill No. 2587 on Page 2, line 1, by striking subsection
(c) and substituting the following:
(c) On request by the workers' compensation research and
evaluation group, the Texas Workforce Commission, Health and Human
Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, and
the Texas Health Care Information Council shall provide information
to the group or otherwise assist the group in preparing the report.
(d) The commissioner of workers' compensation shall submit
a report containing the findings of the study required under
Subsection (a) of this section to the governor, lieutenant
governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate
standing committees of the legislature not later than December 1,
2016.
Simmons