HBA-MPM H.B. 2445 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2445
By: Davis, John
Business & Industry
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current workers' compensation law extends lifetime income benefits to a
worker who is severely injured on the job and who meets certain criteria.
In order to receive lifetime benefits, a worker must have suffered the loss
of both hands or feet, the loss of one hand or foot above the joint,
blindness, severe trauma to the brain, or paralysis.  However, there is no
provision for lifetime benefits for a worker who is severely burned,
despite the fact that severe burns can be debilitating.  House Bill 2445
provides lifetime income benefits to a worker who receives second and third
degree burns over 40 percent of their body. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2445 amends the Labor Code to extend lifetime workers'
compensation benefits that are paid until the death of the employee to
employees who suffer second and third degree burns over 40 percent of their
body. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.