HB 1007 - Workers' Compensation Summary

• Defines "major contributing cause" as the cause more than 50 percent responsible for an injury and requires medical evidence only to demonstrate this standard for all compensable injuries.

• Authorizes employers and carriers to require blood and urine drug testing following all work-related injuries, with costs paid by the employer or carrier regardless of test results.

• Establishes post-accident drug testing requirements for employees with work-related injuries and creates a presumption that injury was caused by drug influence if employee refuses testing, rebuttable only by clear and convincing evidence.

• Eliminates permanent total disability benefits if the authorized physicians determine the employee is capable of performing light-duty work, and makes all preexisting conditions and injuries subject to apportionment regardless of work-relatedness.

• Restricts advance compensation payments to compensable injuries only and permits self-insured employers to deduct 20 percent of claimant's wages to repay advances; effective July 1, 2014.