Standing Up For Workers

The Montana House, today voted on its first significant workers’ compensation bill of the session.

Unfortunately, this bill, HB 334, takes a narrow approach to reducing costs of workers’ compensation. The only true means of cost savings this bill attempts to address is benefits paid out to injured workers. The bill almost totally neglects reducing the costs of treatment. If the bill is passed into law Montana would have one of the most restrictive workers’ compensation programs in the nation.

If this bill is signed into law it would put a 5-year cap on benefits for workplace injuries. In response to this, legislators heard a story about a Missoula police officer that was shot in the neck in the line of duty. The police officer obviously suffered intense injuries and was no longer able to go back to work. As a result of the injury, he also requires around the clock care. If this bill were in place when he was injured, this police officer would see his benefits cut, despite the fact that he was no longer able to work.

Rep. Chuck Hunter (D-Helena) has led efforts to ensure that any bill passed that attempts to address workers’ comp in the state takes a comprehensive approach to the problem, and does not burden injured workers. He understands that a solution to our workers’ comp problem in the state must help both employees and business owners. A solution that only tackles a part of the problem will do nothing to improve our economy and keep Montanans working.