JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri senators endorsed a two-part plan Tuesday night to replenish an insolvent fund for disabled workers and stop people with job-related diseases from bringing big-dollar lawsuits against their employers.
The legislation attempts to address a pair of consequences resulting from a 2005 overhaul of Missouri's workers' compensation system, which resolves claims of job-related injuries through an administrative process instead of circuit court lawsuits.
That 2005 law passed by the Republican-led Legislature capped the fees businesses pay into a special state fund for disabled employees who suffer additional work-related injuries. Partly as a result of that cap, the Second Injury Fund now has a $25 million shortfall. The legislation seeks to replenish the fund by temporarily doubling the fee businesses could be charged and limiting the types of injuries the fund covers.
"We need working capital to get this problem solved," said sponsoring Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville.
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