GA HB971

The board or any party to a workers' compensation settlement may require that settlement documents contain language prorating a lump sum settlement over the life expectancy of the injured worker, with this provision applying retroactively.

Employers may be excused from the 20% penalty for late payment of income benefits if they demonstrate to the board that conditions beyond their control prevented timely payment within the 20-day deadline.

The threshold for board-appointed conservators to settle claims on behalf of minors or legally incompetent claimants is raised from $50,000 to $100,000, and no board-appointed conservator is required when a natural parent is guardian of a minor and the settlement is less than $15,000. Time limits (52-week caps) on conservator and guardian ad litem appointments are removed.

Occupational hearing loss evaluation is expanded to include the 3,000 cycles-per-second frequency (in addition to 500, 1,000, and 2,000), with the compensable hearing loss threshold raised from an average of 15 decibels to 25 decibels and total (100%) hearing loss set at 92 decibels instead of 82. References to the ASA calibration standard are removed.