SB 373 Summary

• Expands the definition of "accident" to include injury or death caused by unprovoked violence or assault against an employee.

• Suspends workers' compensation benefits for employees who become incarcerated and requires employees to be legally authorized to work in the United States to receive benefits.

• Adds restrictions on mental injury claims by requiring work-related stress to be demonstrated as extraordinary and unusual, and excludes mental injuries resulting from disciplinary actions, work evaluations, job transfers, layoffs, demotions, or terminations taken in good faith by employers.

• Increases compensation by 15% when injuries are caused by employer failure to comply with state statutes or lawful division orders, but reduces benefits 25-50% for employee failure to use safety devices or follow safety rules.

• Forfeits all benefits if alcohol or nonprescribed controlled drug use is the proximate cause of injury, with a rebuttable presumption created for legal intoxication; also forfeits benefits if recreational activity participation is the prevailing cause of injury.