127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 81 LR 301(02)
An Act To Amend the Workers' Compensation Laws as They Pertain to Employee Representation
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium cost increase - All Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This legislation expands the definition of "duress" under the Workers' Compensation Act of 1992 that determines under what circumstances certain statements made by an injured employee may not be admitted into evidence in workers' compensation proceedings to include the injured employee's answers to questions from an employer or an employer representative when the injured employee has been denied a request to have a representative of the employee's choice present.
The Office of Workers' Compensation within the Bureau of Human Resources, Department of Administrative and Financial Services, indicates that this legislation may result in additional costs to the State's Workers' Compensation Management Fund Program if the provision in this legislation results in situations where, in order to comply with the injured employee's request, the process of coordinating schedules results in a delay in the injured employee receiving  medical treatment resulting in an increase in the amount of time that the injured employee remains out of work.