On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Assignments advanced several proposals by the Illinois Chamber Of Commerce for workers’ compensation reform to the Senate Labor Committee. The following five proposals are posted for hearing next week:

SB 2625, sponsored by Sen. McCarter, Sen. Righter, Sen. Duffy and Sen. Oberweis: overturns Interstate Scaffolding decision and allows an employer to discontinue temporary benefits when an employee is discharged for “misconduct”;

SB 2622, sponsored by Sen. McCarter, Sen. Righter, Sen. Duffy, Sen. Oberweis and Sen. Althoff: establishes a primary cause standard for determining whether the workplace contributed/caused the injury; defines the scope of “traveling employee” to employment-related travel” or the injury occurs while actively engaged in the duties of employment.

SB 2626, sponsored by Sen. McCarter, Sen. Righter, Sen. Duffy and Sen. Oberweis: provides for clearer methodology in determining an injured worker’s average weekly wage

SB 2623, sponsored by Sen. McCarter, Sen. Righter, Sen. Duffy and Sen. Oberweis: overturns the Will County Forest Preserve decision and restores that a shoulder injury award calculation is based upon being part of the arm; allows an employer credit for awards previously paid for “body as a whole” injuries;

SB 2624, sponsored by Sen. Radogno, Sen. McCarter, Sen. Righter, Sen. Duffy, Sen. Brady, Sen. Althoff Sen. Luechtefeld, Sen. Barickman, Sen. Rezin, Sen. Oberweis, Sen. Rose and Sen. LaHood : encompasses all the provisions of the four above bills.

Inman & Fitzgibbons actively participates in the efforts of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in support of Illinois employers.  If you have any questions about these efforts, please contact Partner Steve Murdock.