MO SB996

Increases the maximum number of authorized administrative law judges in the Division of Workers' Compensation from 40 to 41, and raises the additional compensation for administrative law judges in charge from $5,000 to $10,000 above the standard rate

Establishes a new disciplinary process allowing the division director to file complaints with the Administrative Hearing Commission to remove administrative law judges for felonies, misdemeanors, misconduct, habitual intoxication, willful neglect of duty, corruption, incompetency, or acts of moral turpitude

Requires mandatory retirement for all administrative law judges at age 70 and eliminates the previous administrative law judge review committee system that conducted performance audits and retention votes

Allows claimants to change their attorney representation by filing a written agreement signed by both the claimant and attorney with the commission, which must then update the case records

Removes the "chief legal counsel" position from salary and retirement benefit provisions while maintaining compensation structures for administrative law judges at 90% of associate circuit judge salaries