Georgia Workers’ Compensation Legislative Update: Senate Bill 135 Passes the House of Representatives
On March 28, 2019, Senate Bill 135 passed the House of Representatives, after previously being passed in the Senate, and awaits Governor Brian Kemp’s signature before officially becoming law.
The bill provides for an increase in the maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rate to $675 per week and the maximum temporary partial disability (TPD) rate to $450 per week. Corresponding with the increase in the TTD rate, the maximum compensation awardable to a sole-surviving spouse in the event of a death claim has been increased to $270,000. Additionally, the bill provides some limited exceptions to the 400-week cap in medical benefits for noncatastrophic cases to provide for replacement and maintenance of items such as prosthetics, spinal cord stimulators, pain pumps or certain types of durable medical equipment, provided that the item or service was first furnished within 400 weeks of the date of the injury. This limited medical exception to the 400-week cap applies to all noncatastrophic injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2013.
These changes, once signed into law by Governor Kemp, will take effect on July 1, 2019.
If you wish to further discuss this case or have any questions, please contact a Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers attorney at 404.874.8800 or via our website, swiftcurrie.com.
The foregoing is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the full effect of these changes. Nothing in this notice should be construed as legal advice. This document is intended only to notify our clients and other interested parties about important recent developments. Every effort has been made to ascertain the accuracy of the information contained within this notice.