BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 653 84R5856 KKR-F By: Eltife Business & Commerce 2/27/2015 As Filed
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 653
84R5856 KKR-F By: Eltife
Business & Commerce
2/27/2015
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 653
84R5856 KKR-F
By: Eltife
Business & Commerce
2/27/2015
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The Texas Workers' Compensation Act provides for various types of indemnity benefits payable to injured employees and their beneficiaries in the case of compensable occupational injury, illness, or death. One of these types of indemnity benefits, burial benefits, is designed to compensate the person who pays for the cost of burial for the deceased employee. Currently, the statute allows for the compensation of burial expenses up to $6,000 per workers' compensation claim, or the actual cost incurred for reasonable burial expenses, whichever is less. S.B. 653 increases the maximum reimbursement for burial benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation Act to $10,000 per claim. As proposed, S.B. 653 amends current law relating to increasing the amount of burial benefits required to be paid by an insurance carrier under the workers' compensation system. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 408.186(a), Labor Code, to increase the amount of burial benefits required to be paid by an insurance carrier under the workers compensation system from $6,000 to $10,000. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Workers' Compensation Act provides for various types of indemnity benefits payable to injured employees and their beneficiaries in the case of compensable occupational injury, illness, or death. One of these types of indemnity benefits, burial benefits, is designed to compensate the person who pays for the cost of burial for the deceased employee.
Currently, the statute allows for the compensation of burial expenses up to $6,000 per workers' compensation claim, or the actual cost incurred for reasonable burial expenses, whichever is less. S.B. 653 increases the maximum reimbursement for burial benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation Act to $10,000 per claim.
As proposed, S.B. 653 amends current law relating to increasing the amount of burial benefits required to be paid by an insurance carrier under the workers' compensation system.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 408.186(a), Labor Code, to increase the amount of burial benefits required to be paid by an insurance carrier under the workers compensation system from $6,000 to $10,000.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.