2014 -- S 2412

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LC004196

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION --

PROCEDURE

     

     Introduced By: Senator Michael J.McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-35-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-35 entitled "Workers'

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Compensation - Procedure" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-35-8. Filing of non-prejudicial memorandum of agreement. -- (a) Notwithstanding

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section 28-35-1, if the employer files a memorandum of agreement but specifically designates

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that agreement as a "non-prejudicial" or "without prejudice", the employer may pay weekly

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compensation benefits not exceeding thirteen (13) weeks. In these cases, the employer shall send

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a copy of the non-prejudicial memorandum and any amendments to it to the employee and his or

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her attorney or the representative of the decedent and his or her attorney by certified mail, return

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receipt requested, at the same time as it is filed with the department in the same manner as if it

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were a memorandum of agreement. The non-prejudicial memorandum of agreement shall contain

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all information as directed by section 28-35-1. Having done so, the non-prejudicial memorandum

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of agreement and, with the exception of information relating to the report of earnings, any action

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taken pursuant to it shall be without prejudice to any party subsequently maintaining any position

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as to employer liability for payments under chapters 29 -- 38 of this title, maintainable in the

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absence of an agreement. If at any time within or at the close of the thirteen-week period after

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payments of compensation have commenced the employer or insurer terminates weekly payments

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to the employee or to those entitled to payments on account of death of an employee, the

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employer or insurer shall notify the employee and his or her attorney or the representative of the

 

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decedent employee and his or her attorney within ten (10) days on a form prescribed by the

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department that:

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      (1) Payments have terminated;

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      (2) The claim has not been formally accepted; and

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      (3) The employee has the right to file a petition, within the two (2) year limitation as set

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forth in section 28-35-57, to formally establish liability of the employer or insurer.

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      (b) If the employer or insurer makes payments of weekly benefits to the employee or to

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those entitled to payments on account of death of an employee for more than the thirteen (13)

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week period, the payments shall constitute a conclusive admission of liability and ongoing

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incapacity as to the injuries set forth in the non-prejudicial memorandum of agreement. The

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employer or insurer shall within ten (10) days of making additional payments file a memorandum

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of agreement pursuant to section 28-35-1.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION --

PROCEDURE

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     This act would eliminate the requirement that a non-prejudicial workers' compensation

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memorandum of agreement contain a listing of the injured worker's earnings.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004196

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