Resolve, Directing the Workers' Compensation Board To Consider Adoption of the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition, in Assessing Workers Compensation Injuries Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: . Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and Legislature do not become effective until adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and resolves of the days after Whereas, adoption of the 5th edition of the "Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment could have considerable significance to injured workers, employers and insurers in determining workers compensation benefits and should be considered as soon as possible; and Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately· necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it Page l-LR0905(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1329
Committee Amendment CA_A_S189 (Senate)

FlRST'SPECIAL SESSION 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A· to S.P. 456, L.D. 1329, Bill, "An 
Act To Require the Workers I 
Compensation Board To Use the 5th 
Edition "Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment" in 
Assessing Workers' 
Compensation Injuries 
Involving the 
Spinal 
Column" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
• Resolve, Directing the Workers' Compensation Board To Consider 
Adoption 
of 
the 
"Guides 
to 
the 
Evaluation 
of 
Permanent 
Impairment," 
5th Edition, 
in Assessing Workers' 
Compensation 
Injuries' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
title and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
. Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, adoption of the 5th edition of the "Guides to the 
Evaluation 
of 
Permanent 
Impairment" 
could 
have 
considerable 
significance 
to 
injured 
workers, 
employers 
and 
insurers 
in 
determining 
workers' 
compensation 
benefits 
and 
should 
be 
considered as soon as possible; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately· 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Page l-LR0905(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~6'" 2 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .~. to S.P. 456, L.D. 1329 
Sec. 1. Workers' Compensation Board directed to consider adoption 
of 5th edition of "Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment." 
Resolved: 
That the Workers' 
Compensation Board shall consider 
adoption of the 5th edition of 
"Guides to the Evaluation of 
Permanent Impairment" as impairment guidelines pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 39-A, section 153, subsection 8; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2. Reporting date established. Resolved: 
That the Workers' 
Compensation 
Board 
shall 
report 
its 
findings 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing Committee on Labor by January 15, 2006, including the 
board's determination of whether the 5th edition of "Guides to 
the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment" should be adopted and, if 
so, whether the 5th edition has been adopted by board rule; and 
be it further 
Sec. 3. Authority of Joint Standing Committee on Labor to report out 
legislation. Resolved: 
That, following receipt and review of the 
Workers I 
Compensation Board I s report under section 2, the Joint 
Standing Committee on Labor may report out legislation related to 
the report to the Second ~egular Session of the l22nd Legislature. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. I 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, changes the title and adds 
an emergency preamble and emergency clause. 
The amendment is a 
resolve directing the Workers' 
Compensation Board to consider 
adoption of the 5th edition of 
"Guides to the Evaluation of 
Permanent Impairment" as impairment guidelines and to report to 
the Joint Standing Committee on Labor by January 15, 2006 its 
determination of whether the 5th edition should be adopted and, 
if so, whether it has been adopted by board rule. 
The resolve 
also grants the committee authority to report out legislation to 
the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature related to 
the board's report. 
FISCAL .\OTt J<.EQllRU., 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/12/05 ;t;?ae 
LD 1329 
LR 0905(02) 
An Act To Require the Workers' Compensation Board To Use the 5th Edition "Guides to the 
Evaluation of Permanent Impairment" in Assessing Workers' Compensation Injuries Involving the 
Spinal Column 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A' 
Committee: Labor 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Additional costs to the Workers' Compensation Board can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR0905(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1