BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.125
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S.125
IntroducedbyCommitteeonEconomicDevelopment,HousingandGeneral
Affairs
Date:March18,2025
Subject:Labor;Executive;workers’compensation;JudiciaryEmployees
LaborRelationsAct;collectivebargainingrights
Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestorequire
workers’compensationinsurancecarrierstopayfortranslationservices,to
allowworkers’compensationclaimantstorequestmedicalcasemanagement
services,andtoincreasepenaltiesforthelatepaymentofworkers’
compensationbenefits.Thisbillalsoproposestoallowjudiciarysupervisors
toorganizeandbargaincollectivelyandtoappropriateadditionalfundingto
increasestaffingattheVermontLaborRelationsBoard.
Anactrelatingtoworkers’compensationandcollectivebargainingrights
ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont:
***Workers’Compensation***
Sec.1.21V.S.A§601isamendedtoread:
§601.DEFINITIONS
Asusedinthischapter:
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***
(31)“Medicalcasemanagement”meanstheplanningandcoordination
ofhealthcareservicesappropriatetoachievethegoalofmedical
rehabilitation.
(A)Medicalcasemanagementmayincludemedicalcaseassessment,
includingapersonalinterviewwiththeinjuredemployee;assistancein
developing,implementing,andcoordinatingamedicalcareplanwithhealth
careprovidersinconsultationwiththeinjuredemployeeandtheemployees’
family;andanevaluationoftreatmentresults.Thegoalofmedicalcase
managementistoprovidetheinjuredemployeewithreasonabletreatment
optionstoensurethattheinjuredemployeecanmakeaninformedchoice.
(B)Medicalcasemanagersshallnotprovidemedicalcareoradjust
claims.
(C)Aninjuredemployeeshallbeentitledtomedicalcase
managementservicesifreasonablysupported.Reasonablesupportincludesa
recommendationmadebyahealthcareproviderorevidencedemonstratingthe
injuredemployee’smedicalrecoverywouldbenefitfromtheservices,orboth.
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Sec.2.21V.S.A.§602isamendedtoread:
§602.PROCESSANDPROCEDURE
***
(d)WhenaninjuredemployeedoesnotspeakEnglishfluently,the
employershallpayfortranslationservicestoensuretheinjuredemployeefully
understandstheemployee’srightsandcaneffectivelyparticipateinthe
employee’smedicalrecoveryandtheworkers’compensationclaimsprocess.
Sec.3.21V.S.A.640bisamendedtoread:
§640b.REQUESTFORPREAUTHORIZATION TODETERMINEIF
PROPOSEDBENEFITSORSERVICESARENECESSARY
(a)Asusedinthissection,:
(1)“benefits”“Benefits”meansmedicaltreatmentandsurgical,
medical,andnursingservicesandsupplies,includingprescriptiondrugsand
durablemedicalequipment.
(2)“Services”meansmedicalcasemanagementservices.
***
(e)Within14daysafterreceivingarequestforpreauthorizationof
proposedmedicalcasemanagementservices,theinsurershalldooneofthe
following,inwriting:
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(1)Authorizetheservicesandnotifytheinjuredemployee,the
Department,andthetreatingproviderrecommendingtheservices,if
applicable.
(2)Denytheservicesbecausetheentireclaimisdisputed,andthe
Commissionerhasnotissuedaninterimordertopaybenefits.Theinsurer
shallnotifytheinjuredemployee,theDepartment,andthetreatingprovider
recommendingtheservices,ifapplicable,ofthedecisiontodenybenefits.
(3)Denytherequestifthereisnotreasonablesupportfortherequested
services.Theinsurershallnotifytheinjuredemployee,theDepartment,and
thetreatingproviderrecommendingtheservices,ifapplicable,ofthedecision
todenybenefits.
(4)Notifytheinjuredemployee,theDepartment,andthetreating
providerrecommendingtheservices,ifapplicable,thattheinsurerhas
scheduledanexaminationoftheinjuredemployeepursuanttosection655of
thistitleororderedamedicalrecordreviewpursuanttosection655aofthis
title.Basedontheexaminationorreview,theinsurershallnotifytheinjured
employeeandtheDepartmentofthedecisionwithin45daysafterarequestfor
preauthorization.TheCommissionermay,intheCommissioner’ssole
discretion,granta10-dayextensiontotheinsurertoauthorizeordenythe
services,andsuchanextensionshallnotbesubjecttoappeal.
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(f)Iftheinsurerfailstoauthorizeordenytheservicespursuantto
subsection(e)ofthissectionwithin14daysafterreceivingarequest,the
injuredemployeeortheinjuredemployee’streatingprovider,ifapplicable,
mayrequestthattheDepartmentissueanorderauthorizingservices.After
receiptoftherequest,theDepartmentshallissueaninterimorderwithinfive
daysafternoticetotheinsurer,andfivedaysinwhichtorespond,absent
evidencethattheentireclaimisdisputed.Uponrequestofaparty,the
Commissionershallnotifythepartiesthattheserviceshavebeenauthorizedby
operationoflaw.
(g)Iftheinsurerdeniesthepreauthorizationoftheservicespursuantto
subdivision(e)(2),(3),or(4)ofthissection,theCommissionermay,onthe
Commissioner’sowninitiativeoruponarequestbytheinjuredworker,issue
anorderauthorizingtheservicesiftheCommissionerfindsthattheevidence
showsthattheservicesarereasonablysupported.
Sec.4.21V.S.A.§650isamendedtoread:
§650.PAYMENT;AVERAGEWAGE;COMPUTATION
***
(f)(1)(A)Whenbenefitshavebeenawardedorarenotindisputeas
providedinsubsection(e)ofthissection,theemployershallestablisha
weekdayonwhichpaymentshallbemailedordepositedandnotifythe
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20 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.125
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claimantandtheDepartmentofthatday.Theemployershallensurethateach
weeklypaymentismailedordepositedonorbeforethedayestablished.
(B)Paymentshallbemadebydirectdeposittoaclaimantwhoelects
thatpaymentmethod.Theemployershallnotifytheclaimantofthe
claimant’srighttopaymentbydirectdeposit.
(2)Ifthebenefitpaymentisnotmailedordepositedontheday
established,orifthepaymentisnotmailedordepositedwithinfivebusiness
daysfollowingtheendofthepayperiodthepaymentcovers,theemployer
shallpaytotheclaimantalatefeeequaltothegreaterof$10.00or:
(A)fivepercentofthebenefitamount,whicheverisgreater,foreach
weeklythefirstpaymentthatismadeaftertheestablishedday;
(B)10percentofthebenefitamountforthesecondpaymentthatis
madeaftertheestablishedday;and
(C)15percentofthebenefitamountforthethirdandanysubsequent
paymentsthataremadeaftertheestablishedday.
(3)Asusedinthissubsection,“paid”meansthepaymentismailedto
theclaimant’smailingaddressor,inthecaseofdirectdeposit,transferredinto
thedesignatedaccount.Intheeventofadispute,proofofpaymentshallbe
establishedbyaffidavit.
***LaborRelations***
Sec.5.3V.S.A.§1011isamendedtoread:
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§1011.DEFINITIONS
Asusedinthischapter:
***
(8)“Employee,”meansanyindividualemployedandcompensatedona
permanentorlimitedstatusbasisbytheJudiciaryDepartment,including
permanentpart-timeemployeesandanyindividualwhoseemploymenthas
ceasedasaconsequenceof,orinconnectionwith,anycurrentlabordisputeor
becauseofanunfairlaborpractice.“Employee”doesnotincludeanyofthe
following:
(A)aJustice,judge,assistantjudge,magistrate,orhearingofficer;
(B)theCourtAdministrator;
(C)amanagerial,supervisory,orconfidentialemployee;
(D)alawclerk,attorney,oradministrativeassistantorprivate
secretarytoajudge,Justice,orCourtAdministrator;
(E)anindividualemployedonatemporary,contractual,seasonal,or
on-callbasis,includinganintern;
(F)anemployeeduringtheinitialorextendedprobationaryperiod;
(G)theheadofadepartmentordivision;
(H)[Repealed.]
(I)anattorneyfortheSupremeCourt,fortheCourtAdministrator,
orforanyboardorcommissioncreatedbytheSupremeCourt;
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21 BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.125
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(J)anemployeepaidbytheStatewhoisappointedpart-timeas
countyclerkpursuantto4V.S.A.§651or691;
(K)anemployeewho,afterhearingbytheBoarduponpetitionof
anyindividual,theemployer,oracollectivebargainingunit,isdeterminedto
beinapositionthatissufficientlyinconsistentwiththespiritandintentofthis
chaptertowarrantexclusion.
***
Sec.5a.3V.S.A.§941isamendedtoread:
§941.UNITDETERMINATION,CERTIFICATION,AND
REPRESENTATION
***
(c)(1)ApetitionmaybefiledwiththeBoard,inaccordancewith
proceduresprescribedbytheBoardbyanemployeeorgroupofemployees,or
anyindividualoremployeeorganizationpurportingtoactontheirbehalf,
allegingbyfilingapetitionorpetitionsbearingsignaturesofnotlessthan30
percentoftheemployeesthattheywishtoformabargainingunitandbe
representedforcollectivebargaining,orthattheindividualoremployee
organizationcurrentlycertifiedasthebargainingagentisnolongersupported
byatleast51percentoftheemployeesinthebargainingunit,orthattheyare
nowincludedinanapprovedbargainingunitandwishtoformaseparate
bargainingunitunderBoardcriteriaforpurposesofcollectivebargaining.
Theemployee,groupofemployees,individual,oremployeeorganizationthat
filesthepetition,shall,atthesametimethatthepetitionisfiledwiththe
Board,provideacopyofthepetitiontotheemployerand,ifappropriate,the
currentbargainingagent.
(2)ApetitionmaybefiledwiththeBoard,inaccordancewith
proceduresprescribedbytheBoard,byanemployeeorgroupofemployees,or
anyindividualoremployeeorganizationpurportingtoactontheirbehalf,
allegingbyfilingapetitionorpetitionsbearingsignaturesofnotlessthan50
percentplusoneoftheemployeesthattheindividualoremployeeorganization
currentlycertifiedasthebargainingagentisnolongersupportedbya
majorityoftheemployeesinthebargainingunit.Theemployee,groupof
employees,individual,oremployeeorganizationthatfilesthepetitionshall,at
thesametimethatthepetitionisfiledwiththeBoard,provideacopyofthe
petitiontotheemployerand,ifappropriate,thecurrentbargainingagent.
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(A)(i)Anemployershall,notmorethansevenbusinessdaysafter
receivingacopyofthepetition,fileanyobjectionstotheappropriatenessof
theproposedbargainingunitandraiseanyotherunitdeterminationissues
withtheBoardandprovideacopyofthefilingtotheemployee,groupof
employees,individual,oremployeeorganizationthatfiledthepetition.
***
(d)TheBoard,aBoardmember,orapersonorpersonsdesignatedbythe
Boardshallinvestigatethepetitionanddooneofthefollowing:
(1)Determinethatthepetitionhasmadeasufficientshowingofinterest
pursuanttosubdivisionsubdivisions(c)(1)and(2)ofthissection.
***
***StateConstructionProjects***
Sec.5b.29V.S.A.§ 161isamendedtoread:
§161.REQUIREMENTSONSTATECONSTRUCTIONPROJECTS
***
(d)Subsections(a)through(c)andsubsection(g)ofthissectionshallnot
applytomaintenanceorconstructionprojectscarriedoutbytheAgencyof
TransportationandbytheDepartmentofForests,ParksandRecreation.
***
(g)EmployersandsubcontractorscontractingwiththeStateofVermont
pursuanttothissectionshallkeepatrueandaccuraterecordofallemployees
workingontheproject.
(1)Foreachemployee,therecordshallinclude:
(A)thenameoftheemployee;
(B)theaddressoftheemployee;
(C)thehoursworkedbytheemployee;
(D)thewagespaidtotheemployee;
(E)theemployee’srateofpay;and
(F)theclassificationoftheemployee;thelicensedtradesshall
supplyproofofclassificationofjourneyworkersandindenturedapprentices.
(2)Therecordsdescribedinsubdivision(1)ofthissubsectionshallbe
submittedweeklybyU.S.mailoremailtotheStateagencyoverseeingthe
constructionproject.Therecordsshallbeaccompaniedbyasignedstatement
fromtheemployerorsubcontractorverifyingtheaccuracyoftherecords. BILLASINTRODUCEDANDPASSEDBYSENATE S.125
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(3)Eachemployerandsubcontractorshallpreservetherecords
describedinsubdivision(1)ofthissubsectionforthreeyearsfromthedateof
completionoftheStateproject.Therecordsshallbeavailableforinspection
bytheCommissionerofLaboratanyreasonabletimeuponrequest.
(4)Therecordsreceivedpursuanttosubdivision(2)ofthissubsection
shallbesubjecttoinspectionorcopyingpursuantto1V.S.A.§§315–320.
Sec.6.VERMONTLABORRELATIONSBOARD;APPROPRIATION
fiscalyear2026,$250,000.00isappropriatedfromtheGeneralFundtothe
LaborRelationsBoardtoincreasestaffing.
Sec.76.EFFECTIVEDATE
ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
***EffectiveDates***
Sec.6.EFFECTIVEDATES
(a)ThissectionandSecs.1–5ashalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.
(b)Sec.5bshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2026.
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