SB1539 Summary

• Amends the Workers' Compensation Act to add definitions of "accident" and "injury" and establish that injuries must arise out of and in the course of employment while the employee is actively engaged in work duties.

• Restricts coverage for traveling employees to injuries occurring while actively engaged in job duties when the employer furnishes transportation or reimburses travel costs, or when travel is required as part of job duties; excludes commuting and breaks from coverage.

• Requires injuries, their occupational causes, and resulting disabilities to be established with reasonable medical certainty based on objective findings, with the accidental compensable injury being the "major contributing cause" (more than 50% responsible).

• Caps cumulative partial disability compensation at 500 weeks and clarifies that shoulder injuries are considered arm injuries and hip injuries are considered leg injuries for awards purposes.

• Establishes that employers are not required to pay temporary partial disability or maintenance benefits to employees discharged for cause, but allows the Commission to reinstate benefits and provide retroactive payments if discharge was determined not to be for cause.