SUMMARY

The bill implements the recommendation contained in the fiscal year 2000-01 budget to increase the salaries of the deputy directors from range 82 to 85. It also removes the job titles currently contained in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 2.

This bill also amends Title 39-A, section 102, subsection 8 to provide that dependents who are aliens residing outside the United States or outside the Dominion of Canada are entitled to the full amount of compensation payable in the case of the death of an employee. The bill also defines audit working papers and provides that they are confidential.

The bill requires the filing of a wage statement within 30 days after an employer has notice or knowledge of a claim for incapacity benefits pursuant to Title 39-A, section 212, 213 or 215, unless a wage statement has previously been filed.

This bill provides that cases in which a request for an order has been ruled upon may not be referred to mediation, but must remain with the hearing officer to be scheduled for a hearing.

The bill provides a basic 2-year statute of limitations and also provides that the payment of benefits, either with or without prejudice, extends the statute of limitations for 6 years. It also provides a 6-year statute of limitations in cases when the occurrence of a work-related injury is established by board decree, mediation report or agreement of the parties, even if no benefits are paid.

The bill increases the fine for not securing required workers' compensation coverage to ensure that it is more expensive to be fined for not having coverage than it is to secure workers' compensation coverage.

This bill eliminates Bureau of Insurance arbitration proceedings and places jurisdiction over apportionment issues