Senate Bill 07-258

• Slight changes to worker’s compensation evidentiary hearings specific to notice, time schedule, evidence and orders;
• Increases the aggregate of all lump sums granted to $60,000, from the old maximum of $37,560;
• Requires automatic payment of up to $10,000 in a lump sum for both scheduled and non-scheduled awards.

House Bill 07-1297

• Increases the award for disfigurement to a maximum of $4,000, and an award of up to $8,000 for extensive facial or body scars, burn scars, or stumps resulting from loss of limbs.

House Bill 07-1008

• Creates a presumption of an occupational disease for a disability, death, or impairment suffered by a fire fighter which results from certain types of cancer.

House Bill 07-1176

• Affords a claimant the opportunity to select a treating physician from a list of at least two physicians or provider systems designated by the employer. Previously, the Respondent selected the authorized treating physician with no choice being offered to the injured worker;
• Allows the claimant a one-time change of position to a physician or provider on the employer’s designated list. This changes in addition to the existing procedure which allows the claimant to request a change of physician at any time with permission from the insurer.

House Bill 07-1366

• Requires that a person contracting construction work on a construction site either provide or require proof of worker’s compensation insurance coverage for every person performing construction work on that site;
• Does not apply to independent contractors who have formed corporations and have rejected coverage; corporate officers and members of limited liability companies who have rejected coverage; owners, occupants (or both), of a qualified residence who contract work to be done by a person not in their employ; owners, occupants (or both), who contract for routine repair or maintenance.