State: OK Alternative Benefits Bill Awaits Vote, Opponents Call It 'Obama Comp':
Backers of legislation to allow Oklahoma employers an alternative to workers’ compensation coverage reported on Monday the proposal is expected to be considered in the House of Representatives later this week or next week. Meanwhile, opponents of the legislation have attacked it as “Obama
State: WV High Court Affirms Board in 10 Comp Rulings:
The West Virginia Supreme Court issued a series of memorandum decisions upholding administrative rulings in 10 workers’ compensation cases on Monday. In Booker v. West Virginia Office of Insurance Commissioner et al., No. 101481, the court affirmed the denial of benefits to Debra K.
State: PA SWIF Probe: Auditor was on Staffing Firms' Payroll for Decade:
By Michael Whiteley, Eastern Bureau Chief An auditing supervisor for the State Workers’ Insurance Fund (SWIF) was on the payroll of three Pennsylvania staffing companies for at least a decade before he was arrested on bribery charges Monday by a special investigations unit of
State: FL Contractor Charged in Shell Company Case:
The president of a West Florida construction company was arrested last week on charges of falsifying payroll information to reduce workers’ compensation premiums paid to Guarantee Insurance Co. and illegally using a “shell company.” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said Friday that Randall
State: OK House and Senate Pass Workers' Comp 'Opt-Out' Bills:
By Bill Kidd, Central Bureau Chief Legislation that would make Oklahoma only the second state in the nation to allow employers to opt out of the workers’ compensation system has cleared both houses of the state Legislature, but the final language hasn’t been determined
State: FL Legislature Votes to Abolish Injured Worker Retraining Program:
The Florida Legislature voted late Friday to abolish the state Bureau of Rehabilitation and Reemployment Services and allow the state to contract the rehabilitation of injured workers out to private vocational counselors. The Senate voted 36 to 1 to approve a report on House
State: HI Uninsured Contractors Fined, State Investigating other Complaints:
A task force comprised of multiple state agencies fined contractors building a townhouse project $45,025 for not carrying workers’ compensation insurance and multiple safety violations, according to a report by Hawaii News Now. Deputy State Labor Director Audrey Hidano said seven contractors and subcontractors
State: NJ Drug Test Gave Employer Good Enough Reason for Termination:
A grocery store did not commit disability discrimination when it fired a manager with Parkinson’s disease for using a painkiller without a prescription, a New Jersey appellate court ruled. Case: Martin v. Quick Chek Corp., No. A-2637-10T2, 1/18/12, unpublished. Facts: Erik Martin, a store
State: AK Property Owners Liable for Contractor's Work Comp Claim:
The owners of a mixed-use property are liable for the workers’ compensation claim of an uninsured contractor, the Supreme Court of Alaska concluded. Case: Trudell v. Hibbert, No. S-13608, 2/17/12, published. Facts: Lawrence Trudell, an employee of Phillips Construction Co., was injured while climbing
State: OK OSHA Issues Fines to Grain Facility Where 2 Teenagers Lost Legs:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Friday it has issued an Oklahoma grain-handling facility four serious safety citations, with fines totaling $21,500, following an accident on Aug. 4 in which two 17-year-old workers each lost a leg. OSHA reported the teenagers working for
