Yesterday (September 18, 2019), California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 5—the much talked about “gig worker” law that strikes at the heart of the business model for...
California Governor Signs “Gig Worker” Bill into Law California Governor Signs “Gig Worker” Bill into LawIs This a Different Tack to Allow Employers to “Opt-Out” of Compulsory Coverage? Two days ago (April 2, 2019), Arkansas state senator Stanley Jason Rapert (Republican-35th District) introduced a bill...
Here We Go Again: Arkansas Bill Would Establish ERISA-Based “Alternative” System for Workers’ Compensation Here We Go Again: Arkansas Bill Would Establish ERISA-Based “Alternative” System for Workers’ CompensationAs was widely anticipated, on Wednesday (October 24, 2018), Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1840, known by some as “the Protz fix,” reestablishing that the AMA Guides, 6th...
PA Governor Wolf Signs House Bill 1840 (i.e., “the Protz Fix”) PA Governor Wolf Signs House Bill 1840 (i.e., “the Protz Fix”)Last Thursday (October 18, 2018), the Pennsylvania legislature sent House Bill 1840, a/k/a “the Protz Fix,” to Governor Wolf’s desk for his signature. Passed by an easy 34-15 margin, the...
Protz “Fix” Awaits PA Governor’s Signature Protz “Fix” Awaits PA Governor’s SignatureEarlier this month, the Florida Senate and House both unanimously passed Senate Bill 376, so as generally to allow workers’ compensation benefits for first responders who suffer PTSD as a...
Florida Legislature Approves PTSD Coverage for First Responders Florida Legislature Approves PTSD Coverage for First RespondersSenate Bill 721 On Wednesday, state senator Mark Green (Republican from Clarksville), introduced Senate Bill 721 to the Tennessee legislature. If enacted, many Tennessee employers would be allowed to opt-out...
Workers’ Comp “Opt-Out” Bill Introduced in Tennessee Legislature Workers’ Comp “Opt-Out” Bill Introduced in Tennessee LegislatureYesterday (July 2), Governor Jay Nixon vetoed legislation [Senate Bill 34] that would have permitted created a state-run database system that would have contained basic information about workers’ compensation claims...
Missouri Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Have Established State-Wide Database of Comp Claims (and Claimants) Missouri Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Have Established State-Wide Database of Comp Claims (and Claimants)On December 28, Michigan became the 5th state to pass a social media privacy law. House Bill 5523, entitled the Internet Privacy Protection Act, was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder...
Michigan Becomes 5th State to Pass Social Media Law Affecting Employers’ Right to Private Information Michigan Becomes 5th State to Pass Social Media Law Affecting Employers’ Right to Private InformationBy Thomas A. Robinson Late last Wednesday evening (April 25th), supporters of a controversial bill that would have allowed some Oklahoma employers to “opt out” of the state’s traditional workers’...
Oklahoma Opt Out Legislation Fails: A Post Mortem Oklahoma Opt Out Legislation Fails: A Post MortemLate Wednesday evening, supporters of a controversial bill that would allow some Oklahoma employers to “opt out” of the state’s traditional workers’ compensation system [see Oklahoma House Bill 2155] fell...
Oklahoma’s Controversial “Opt Out” Legislation Fails (At Least Temporarily) Oklahoma’s Controversial “Opt Out” Legislation Fails (At Least Temporarily)In August 2007, the Supreme Court of Florida ordered the empanelment of a statewide grand jury to investigate various criminal offenses, including activities related to check cashers. In 2008, the...
The Fight Against Workers’ Compensation Fraud Takes Many Forms–Florida Goes After Unscrupulous Check Cashing Firms The Fight Against Workers’ Compensation Fraud Takes Many Forms–Florida Goes After Unscrupulous Check Cashing FirmsIndications are that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder will soon sign legislation that makes significant modifications to the state’s workers’ compensation law. H.B. 5002, introduced by state Representative Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford),...
Michigan Governor Poised to Sign Significant Workers’ Compensation Legislation Michigan Governor Poised to Sign Significant Workers’ Compensation Legislation