An Act to Index Workers' Compensation Benefits to the Rate of Inflation
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1896
Committee Amendment CA_A_S534 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ft " to S.P. 767, L.D. 1896, "An Act to Index
Workers' Compensation Benefits to the Rate of Inflation"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, Directing the Workers' Compensation Board to Analyze Data on the
Adequacy of Certain Maine Workers' Compensation Benefits'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Workers' Compensation Board to identify and conduct an analysis
of claims and payments. Resolved: That the Workers' Compensation Board, referred
to in this resolve as "the board," using data supplied by insurers, 3rd-party administrators,
group self-insurers and individual self-insured employers, shall identify and analyze the
compensation and benefits provided to an individual claimant pursuant to the Maine
Revised Statutes, Title 39-A, section 212 for total incapacity, section 213 for partial
incapacity and section 215 for death and any other relevant data and available reports. For
each claimant, the analysis must include, but is not limited to, data and reports relating to
the following components:
1. The claim identification number assigned by the board;
2. The claim identification number assigned by the insurer, 3rd-party administrator,
group self-insurer or individual self-insured employer;
3. The date of injury;
4. The average weekly wage;
5. The compensation rate;
6. For a claimant pursuant to Title 39-A, section 212, the number of weeks of
compensation and benefits paid;
7. For a claimant pursuant to Title 39-A, section 213, the number of weeks of
compensation and benefits paid and the number of weeks for which the benefit was 100%
partial;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ft " to S.P. 767, L.D. 1896 (ly\
8. For a claimant pursuant to Title 39-A, section 215, the number of weeks of
compensation and benefits paid;
9. The date the last payment was made and whether payments are continuing;
10. The total amount of indemnity benefits paid; and
11. Any other information the board determines necessaiy to complete the analysis.
In analyzing each data component, the board shall consider the accuracy of the data
available; how the benefit amount compares to the current cost of living as determined by
the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U for the New
England Division; the cost of updating the annual adjustment provision in Title 39-A,
section 212; and the cost of implementing a cost-of-living adjustment provision in sections
213 and 215.
Sec. 2. Updates; report; legislation. Resolved: That the board, within existing
resources, shall provide monthly updates to the joint standing committee of the Legislature
having jurisdiction over workers' compensation matters on the identification of data and
reports and the analysis conducted under section 1. No later than August 16, 2025, the
board shall submit a final report to the committee with its findings, recommendations and
suggested legislation. The report must include:
1. A thorough analysis of the data and reports that were considered, identification of
data or other areas that require further study and recommendations on any changes or
adjustments to workers' compensation benefits in order to ensure claimants are receiving
adequate benefits;
2. A thorough analysis of whether the M.aine Workers' Compensation Act of 1992
provides substantial protection for workers who have suffered work-related injuries and
diseases at an affordable cost to employers, including whether the workers' compensation
system can provide the income support that injured workers require as a result of their
injuries at a cost no greater than the median cost in other states; and
3. Information regarding the retroactive application of workers' compensation
legislation based on the analysis under this resolve and an evaluation of the costs of
potential retroactive application.
The committee may report out legislation to the 132nd Legislature in 2026 related to
the subject matter of the report.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecu lively.
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. The amendment replaces the
6 bill with a resolve directing the Workers' Compensation Board to collect data from insurers,
7 Srd-party administrators, group self-insurers and self-insured employers and to analyze that
data to make recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over workers' compensation matters on the adequacy of workers' compensation
benefits to claimants under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 39-A, sections 212, 213 and
215.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ft-" to S.P, 767, L.D. 1896 (S~[
The amendment also requires the board to provide monthly updates to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over workers' compensation matters and
submit a final report no later than August 1 6,2025.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/02/24 !^WL
LD 1896 LR 2397(02)
An Act to Index Workers' Compensation Benefits to the Rate of Inflation
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^Y$-5$L/
Committee: Labor and Housing
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Workers' Compensation Board to conduct the required analysis and provide the monthly
updates can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2397(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1