Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-04-22 02-184 RESOLVEDate: 4-22-02 Item/Subject Resolve, Calling Upon the Maine Legislature to Act to Prevent Increases In Workers' Compensation Casts. Responsible Department: City Council The attached resolve addresses a workers' compensation Issue currently under debate in Augusta. This Issue resulted from a recent Law Court deasion that found that pre-existing, non -work related conditions are to be considered in determining an employee's level of permanent impairment. It is estimated that this decision will increase workers' compensation costs by approximately 15% and open employers to past liabilities back to 1993. The legislature will be considering this issue on April 24" as It returns to Augusta for `iv W day The attached resolve requests that the legislature address this court decision and take the necessary steps to ensure that employer costs will not increase while maintaining a workers' compensation system that continues to provide appropriate benefits W workers who have been injured on Me job. �Iu Manager's Comments: Ory Manager Associated Information: Resolve Finance Director Legal Approval: ON Ilcl[or introduced for X Passage First Reading Page_ of Referral 02-194 Assign to Cowclior eaxclaBcw Aprll 22. 2002 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) RESOLVE, Calling Upon the Maine Legislature W A W Prevent Increases in Workers' Compensation Costs. WHEREAS, Municipalities are struggling to balance budgets in Me face of escalating costs for education, road maintenance, and basic municipal services; and WHEREAS, Municipalities are overburdened by under funded and/or unfunded legislative mandates; and WHEREAS, The cost of otenrg health irourance to municipal employees is spiraling out of control and severely straining local budgets; and WHEREAS, Flier years of decline, workers' compensation insurance rates and cosh have increasetl significant over the past two years; and WHEREAS, The Maine Supreme Law Court rendered a decision in the couch Care on February J, 2002 requiring the consideration of pressdsbng, non -work related conditions for the okulabon of workers' compensation benefits; and WHEREAS, The National Council of Compensation Insurers, the organization whose recommendations provide the basis upon which premiums are based in Maine, has estimated that workers' compensation premiums will increase by fifteen percent for all employers and retroactive cost will be belween $1W and $290 million because of the Kotch Rol and WHEREAS, Municipalitles will be faced W reduce services or increase already overburdenetl property taxes W pay for any increases in workers' compensation premiums. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CIT/ OF BANGOR, THAT; We hereby urge Me Maine State LegislaMre W Immediately address the Kotch decision and to take the necessary steps to ensure that employer cash will not increase while maintaining a workers' compensation system that continues W provide appropriate benefit to workers who have been injured white on the job. Itn CITY Comm April 22. 2002 Notion Mede and Eecaaded for Passage Passed Cy GLERK 02-186 R E A 0 1 V E Title, failing upon the Raine Legislature to Act to Prevent Increases in Worker's Compensation Costs Assigned to r Councilor