New York Workers Compensation Alliance

At a 1:00pm news conference today, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno announced a comprehensive workers' compensation reform package, breaking an almost 12 year legislative dead lock.  Listen to the audio announcement here.

Like any hard fought compromise, neither business nor labor got everything they wanted.  However, both injured workers and business will see significant benefits.  Injured workers will see a rapid increase in the maximum weekly benefit, while employers should see a 10-15% decrease in premiums. 

The New York Workers' Compensation Alliance, after months of hard work,  was particularly pleased to see the adoption of many of our legislative proposals.  Specifically, the following proposals made by the Workers' Compensation Alliance are part of the new reform package:

• The maximum weekly benefit will increase $500 immediately, then to 2/3 of the state average weekly wage by 2010 and will be indexed and adjusted automatically in the future;
• Increases the minimum weekly benefit to $100;
• Increases the dollar amount for pre-approval of medical services to $1000;
• Provides lifetime medical coverage for workers with permanent partial disabilities;
• Mandates lump sum settlement (Section 32) offers for permanent partial disabilities;
• Provides workers with meaningful vocational rehabilitation and light duty programs;
• Creates a "Rocket Docket"  program to speed resolution of claims;
• Abolishes the New York Compensation Rating Board.

Of course, the New York Workers' Compensation Alliance is deeply concerned that the proposed caps on cash benefits for permanent partial disabilities will take away the much needed economic safety net for those workers whose partial disabilities effectively preclude them from competitive employment. 

However, the bill does provide such claimants the right to petition at any time for a reclassification as a permanent total industrial disability, thereby providing lifetime cash benefits.  Once the actual bill language is released later today, we will be analyzing what additional safety net protections exist for those with permanent partial disabilities and reporting our position.  Frequently, the "devil is in the details".   Let's hope the details in this bill are angelic!

Any one with questions or concerns regarding this bill may call Workers' Compensation Alliance Co- Chairs Troy Rosasco at 631-582-3700 x123 or John Sciortino at 585-475-1100.

Well, it's about time. It's very nice to see labor and business agreeing on something without getting their butts kicked. Poor Pataki, never understood this.

Hopefully, this agreement will not be like the Comptroller issue and the parties can actually work things through.

What happens to injured workers who cannot find jobs or succeed at vocational rehab??? Will the State OK welfare?? Will US be OK with medical???

We will have to wait and see, Old Jim. The WCA will be fighting for you.