Amend the bill by inserting before section 1 the following:

Amend the bill in section 7 in subsection 1-B in the 3rd line (page 4, line 28 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " 25%" and inserting the following: ' 18%'

Amend the bill in section 7 in subsection 1-B in the 5th line (page 4, line 30 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " 50%" and inserting the following: ' 65%'

Amend the bill in section 7 in subsection 1-B in the 11th line (page 4, line 36 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " physical" the following: ' and psychological'

Amend the bill in section 7 in subsection 1-B in the first paragraph in the 3rd line from the end (page 4, line 39 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " not less than 24 months" and inserting the following: ' of not less than 12 months within a 24-month period'

Amend the bill in section 17 by striking out all of subsection 1 (page 8, lines 33 to 36 in L.D.) and inserting the following:

Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.

summary

This amendment makes the following changes to the bill regarding requirements for receiving benefits for long-term partial incapacity:

1. It reduces the percentage of permanent impairment necessary from 25% to 18%;

2. It changes the necessary percentage of the employee's earnings from 50% or less of the preinjury average weekly wage to 65% or less of the preinjury average weekly wage;

3. It requires consideration of an employee's psychological work capacity in assessing the employee's earning capacity; and

4. It changes the necessary period of earnings from employment from not less than 24 months prior to the expiration of the 520-week durational limit to a period of not less than 12 months within a 24-month period prior to the expiration of the 520-week durational limit.

In addition, this amendment specifies that the statute of limitations bars a petition unless filed within 2 years after the date of injury or the date the employee's employer files a required first report of injury.

Finally, this amendment requires that the Workers' Compensation Board report, at least annually, to the Legislature, on costs to employers associated with long-term partial incapacity benefits and permanent impairment rating numbers.