A02021 Summary:

BILL NO    A02021B

SAME AS    Same as S 2776-B

SPONSOR    John

COSPNSR    Perry

MLTSPNSR   

Amd SS25 & 15, Work Comp L

Provides that certain workers' compensation payments be made in one lump sum
without commutation to a present value amount.

A02021 Actions:

BILL NO    A02021B

01/15/2009 referred to labor
05/27/2009 amend and recommit to labor
05/27/2009 print number 2021a
06/02/2009 reported referred to ways and means
06/02/2009 amend and recommit to ways and means
06/02/2009 print number 2021b
06/15/2009 reported referred to rules
06/15/2009 reported 
06/15/2009 rules report cal.311
06/15/2009 ordered to third reading rules cal.311
06/17/2009 passed assembly
06/17/2009 delivered to senate
06/18/2009 REFERRED TO RULES
07/16/2009 SUBSTITUTED FOR S2776B
07/16/2009 3RD READING CAL.512
07/16/2009 PASSED SENATE
07/16/2009 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
08/14/2009 delivered to governor
08/26/2009 signed chap.351

A02021 Votes:

BILL: A02021B DATE: 06/17/2009  MOTION:                       YEA/NAY: 134/010

Abbate  Y  Cahill  Y  Englebr Y  Hooper  Y  Maisel  Y  Powell  Y  Skartad Y
Alessi  Y  Calhoun Y  Errigo  Y  Hoyt    Y  Markey  Y  Pretlow Y  Spano   Y
Alfano  Y  Camara  Y  Espaill Y  Hyer-Sp Y  Mayerso Y  Quinn   Y  Stirpe  Y
Amedore Y  Canestr Y  Farrell Y  Jacobs  Y  McDonou Y  Rabbitt Y  Sweeney Y
Arroyo  Y  Carrozz ER Fields  Y  Jaffee  Y  McEneny Y  Raia    Y  Tedisco Y
Aubry   Y  Castro  Y  Finch   Y  Jeffrie Y  McKevit Y  Ramos   Y  Thiele  NO
Bacalle Y  Christe Y  Fitzpat NO John    Y  Meng    Y  Reilich Y  Titone  Y
Ball    Y  Clark   Y  Gabrysz Y  Jordan  NO Miller  Y  Reilly  Y  Titus   Y
Barclay NO Colton  Y  Galef   Y  Kavanag Y  Millman Y  Rive J  Y  Tobacco Y
Barra   Y  Conte   Y  Gantt   Y  Kellner Y  Molinar NO Rive N  Y  Towns   Y
Barron  ER Cook    Y  Gianari Y  Kolb    NO Morelle Y  Rive PM Y  Townsen Y
Benedet Y  Corwin  NO Gibson  Y  Koon    Y  Nolan   Y  Robinso Y  Walker  Y
Benjami Y  Crespo  Y  Giglio  Y  Lancman Y  Oaks    NO Rosenth Y  Weinste Y
Bing    Y  Crouch  Y  Glick   Y  Latimer Y  O'Donne Y  Russell ER Weisenb Y
Boyland ER Cusick  Y  Gordon  Y  Lavine  Y  O'Mara  NO Saladin Y  Weprin  Y
Boyle   Y  Cymbrow Y  Gottfri Y  Lentol  Y  Ortiz   Y  Sayward Y  Wright  Y
Bradley Y  DelMont Y  Gunther Y  Lifton  Y  Parment Y  Scarbor Y  Zebrows Y
Brennan Y  DenDekk Y  Hawley  Y  Lope PD ER Paulin  Y  Schimel Y  Mr Spkr Y
Brodsky Y  Destito Y  Hayes   NO Lope VJ ER Peoples Y  Schimmi Y
Brook-K Y  Dinowit Y  Heastie Y  Lupardo Y  Peralta Y  Schroed Y
Burling Y  Duprey  Y  Hevesi  Y  Magee   Y  Perry   Y  Scozzaf Y
Butler  Y  Eddingt Y  Hikind  Y  Magnare Y  Pheffer Y  Seminer Y

A02021 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A2021B

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in
relation to the payment of compensation

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill would change the payment
structure to injured workers for permanent partial disability from
incremental payments to one lump sum.

Section 1 of the bill amends section 25(1)(b) of the Workers' Compen-
sation Law to require that an award of compensation for permanent
partial disability may be payable in one lump sum if requested by the
worker.

Section 2 of the bill amends section 15(3)(u) of the Workers' compen-
sation Law to require that a total or partial loss of use of more than
one member or parts of members may be fully payable in one lump sum if
requested by the worker.

JUSTIFICATION: Injured workers who suffer permanent functional limita-
tions to extremities or certain other body parts are typically compen-
sated for such losses by a schedule loss of use award. Such awards,
calculated after deducting the amount of lost time benefits paid to the
claimant, provide the injured worker with a cushion against the dimin-
ished future earning capacity caused by his or her permanent functional
impairment.

The Workers' Compensation Board has recognized that it is entirely
consistent with the economic and humanitarian objects of the Workers'
compensation Law to pay such schedule loss of use awards to the injured
worker in one lump sum, rather than periodically over time.  In Lacroix
v. Syracuse Executive Air Service 25 A.D. 3d 967 (2006), the Appellate
Division, Third Department affirmed the Workers' Compensation Board's
approval of the lump sum payment of schedule loss of use awards. That
decision, however, was reversed by the New York Court of Appeals in
LaCroix v. Syracuse Executive Air Service, 8 N.Y.3d 348(2007). While
recognizing that a schedule loss of use award seeks to compensate the
injured worker for loss of earning power, the Court of Appeals ruled
that the Board's policy contravened the language of the Worker's Compen-
sation Law and that any departure from the periodic method of payment of
schedule loss of use awards must come from the Legislature.

Lump sum payments allow injured workers to invest their award if they
chose and better prepare for the adverse financial and emotional effects
of their resulting diminished earning capacity.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2008: A.10879 Reported to Ways and Means

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The act would take effect immediately.