Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to the amount of
temporary income benefits to which an injured employee is entitled under the
workers' compensation system.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
SB 901 would amend Section 408.103(a) of the Labor Code
concerning the amount of temporary income benefits (TIB) for workers’
compensation. Specifically, workers’ making less than $10 an hour would be
included in the formulation that determines the amount of TIBs. Currently the
law makes this formulaic determination on workers’ making less than $8.50 an
hour.
The workers’ compensation system is deeply flawed in that it operates under a regulatory regime that operates nothing like the free market. Workers do not have a choice in whether or not to participate in the system and employers who participate have legal immunity protecting them from on the job injury law suits.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) uses different
formulas to determine the amount of TIBs for injured workers’. One of these formulas bases the determination of
TIBs on a workers’ hourly wage of $8.50. SB 901 would increase that threshold
to $10 an hour.
Since this legislation would not affect the operations of private entities or affect consumer choice since no such choice exists under this program we
stand neutral on SB 901.
It is important to reiterate that current regulations do not
allow workers’ compensation to operate in the free market; were it allowed to
operate in the free market, legislation such as SB 901 would not be needed because
workers would be able to shop for plans that suit their needs.