Tenn. lawmakers hasten workers' comp bill

By Karin Miller
The Associated Press
April 13, 2004

The Commercial Appeal

NASHVILLE - Gov. Phil Bredesen's administration, lobbyists and lawmakers are still trying to work out a compromise on legislation overhauling the state's workers' compensation system, Sen. Joe Haynes said.

The "drop dead" date is Friday, said Haynes, who had hoped to present the bill Monday to the Joint Oversight Committee on Workers' Compensation that he co-chairs.

He said that interested parties are trying to determine the fiscal impact of changes like increasing the compensation rate for some injured workers.

"All of these items cost money. We're trying to run the numbers to see if that will work," said Haynes, D-Goodlettsville and Senate majority leader.

He said there's no truth to allegations that sponsors are trying to "slow walk" the legislation. "Workers' compensation is a very complex and difficult area of law," Haynes said. "We're working as hard as we can work."

But lawmakers with alternative bills say they're ready to move their proposals.

"At the end of the day, ours is the most comprehensive bill and we need to move forward. We're running out of time," said Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville. "This covers all the concerns that the committees have heard. I don't see any reason for delay."

Bredesen told lawmakers this year he wanted to sign a bill lowering the cost of workers' compensation to businesses. Legislative leaders hope to wrap up the session in early May.

The state's Workers' Compensation Advisory Council recommended against passage of bills sponsored by Norris and by Sen. Don McLeary, D-Humboldt, saying they include some good aspects but don't address all the issues that should be included in a reform of the system.

Among other things, the bills would:


Increase compensation for workers who can't return to the job but lower awards for employees who go back to work.

Require benefit review conferences in all cases before they can go to trial.

Provide penalties for late payments to injured workers.

Give more weight to treating physicians' testimony about the extent of an injury.