Summary of Current Springfield Legislative Activity
By: Katie S. Lonze Updated: June 12, 2014
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1. 1. Senate Bill 3287 (Workers’ Compensation – Wholly Owned Service Organizations)
a. Summary:
Senate Bill 3287, sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul, removes the right to recover damages, other than compensation provider for under the Act, from a service organization that provides safety service, advice, or recommendations, and is wholly owned by the employer or the employer’s insurer or broker.
b. Status:
This bill became a law, effective immediately, on June 5, 2014.
2. 2. Senate Bill 2625 (Workers’ Compensation – Misconduct)
a. Summary
Senate Bill 2625, sponsored by Sen. Kyle McCarter, Sen. Dale Righter, Sen. Dan Duffy, and Sen. Jim Oberweis, would overturn Interstate Scaffolding and allow an employer to discontinue temporary partial disability benefits when an employee has been discharged for cause. However, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission would be able to reinstate and retroactively restore any benefits the employer should have paid if the discharge was not for cause, following a hearing.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
3. Senate Bill 2622 (Workers’ Compensation – Travel Causation)
a. Summary:
Senate Bill 2622, sponsored by Sen. Kyle McCarter, Sen. Dale Righter, Sen. Dan Duffy, and Sen. Pamela Althoff, would amend the Act to provide benefits for traveling employees injured while in traveling status, only if the injury arose out of and in the course of employment while the employee was actively engagemd in employment duties. It would define “injury” to include the aggravation of a pre-existing condition by an accident arising out of and in the course of the employment, but only for so long as the aggravation of the pre-existing condition continues to be the major contributing cause of the disability. Any injury that results directly or indirectly from idiopathic causes would not be compensable.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
4. Senate Bill 2626 (Workers’ Compensation – Weekly Wage)
a. Summary
Senate Bill 2626, sponsored by Sen. Kyle McCarter, Sen. Dale Righter, Sen. Dan Duffy, and Sen. Jim Oberweis, would amend the average weekly wage calculation in instances where the employee worked less than 52 weeks the be the amount that would have been earned by a person in the same grade employed at the same work for each of such 52 weeks for the same number of hours per week by the same employer.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
5. Senate Bill 2623 (Arm and Shoulder Compensation)
a. Summary:
Senate Bill 2623, sponsored by Sen. Kyle McCarter, Sen. Dale Righter, Sen. Dan Duffy, and Sen. Jim Oberweis, would amend the Act to overturn Will County Forest Preserve, and allow employer credits for awards previously paid scheduled injuries in instances when the employee suffers a new injury to the same body part. It would also limit cumulative awards for partial disability to 500 weeks and provide that injuries to the shoulder are injuries to the arm and injuries to the hip are injuries to the leg.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
6. Senate Bill 2624 (Workers’ Compensation Various)
a. Summary
Senate Bill 2624, sponsored by Sen. Christine Radogno, Sen. Kyle McCarter, Sen. Dale Righter, Sen. Dan Duffy, Sen. William Brady, Sen. Pamela Althoff Sen. David Luechtefeld, Sen. Jason Barickman, Sen. Sue Rezin, Sen. Jim Oberweis, Sen. Chapin Rose, Sen. Darin LaHood, and Sen. Karen McConnaughay, encompasses all the provisions of the four above bills and would make the above changes.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
7. House Bill 4189 (Kay-R-Edwardsville)
a. Summary:
House Bill 4189, sponsored by Rep. Dwight Kay, would amend the Health Care Services Lien Act to delete exemptions for services rendered under the provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act from the types of services that give rise to a health care services lien. It would also amend the Act to provide that a medical provider may claim a lien upon any reward, judgment, or fund out of which the employee might be compensated by a third party, if the lien complies with certain billing conditions.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
8. House Bill 5792 (Workers’ Compensation Termination Notice)
a. Summary:
House Bill 5792, sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, would require an employer who terminates an injured employee to file a statement with the Workers' Compensation Commission regarding compliance with the Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Diseases Acts.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
9. Senate Bill 3392 (Workers’ Compensation – Widows of Firefighter and Police Officer)
a. Summary
Senate Bill 3392, sponsored by Sen. John Sullivan and Sen. Melinda Bush, would require employers to continue to pay death benefits to widows or widowers of firefighters or police officers until the widow or widower’s death, regardless of whether that individual remarries.
b. Status:
As of March 28, 2014, the bill was re-referred to assignments.
