MS SB2749

Grants the Workers' Compensation Commission exclusive jurisdiction over claims for alleged bad faith claims handling and intentional torts arising from workers' compensation claim handling by employers, administrators, or insurers.

Requires all pending bad faith claims handling actions to be immediately transferred to the Commission upon the bill's effective date of July 1, 2016.

Authorizes the Commission to levy a reasonable penalty payable as increased compensation to the claimant upon finding bad faith claims handling by clear and convincing evidence, considering wrongfulness, intent, amounts owed, repetition, and employee harm.

Defines "bad faith claims handling" as intentional and malicious denial or substantial delay of compensation benefits without any reasonable basis or reasonable belief that benefits were not currently due.

Specifies that failure to pay benefits timely does not constitute bad faith claims handling by itself and remains subject to existing penalty provisions under Section 71-3-37.