CS for HB 303 - Workers' Compensation Benefits for Rehabilitation and Reemployment

• Increases from 45 to 90 consecutive days the period of total inability to work before an employer must notify the administrator about potential reemployment benefits eligibility

• Extends timeframes for rehabilitation specialist evaluations (60 days instead of 30) and reemployment plan development (90 days instead of previous timeframe) with administrator notification procedures

• Establishes job dislocation benefits as an alternative to reemployment benefits, with payments of $6,500-$17,500 based on permanent partial impairment rating, selectable within 150 days of eligibility determination

• Increases maximum reemployment plan cost from $13,300 to $19,300, with annual adjustments based on Consumer Price Index; excludes rehabilitation specialist fees from plan cost calculations

• Adds procedures for suspending/resuming reemployment process based on medical conditions or extenuating circumstances, and allows plan modifications within combined time and cost limitations; creates new review and reconsideration procedures for administrator decisions