Gov. Tony Evers on Friday signed Assembly Bill 1073, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 213, into law. The act makes several improvements to Wisconsin’s worker’s compensation system.
The bill received the unanimous approval of labor and management members of the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) before being sent to the legislature for passage and then to Gov. Evers for his review.
2023 Wisconsin Act 213 includes language to:
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Increase the permanent partial disability weekly rate by $8 for injuries occurring in 2024, on and after the effective date from $430 to $438, and by an additional $8 to $446 for injuries occurring on and after Jan. 1, 2025.
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Allow lump sum payments for permanent partial disability for unaccrued compensation to be paid voluntarily in advance in undisputed claims with no 5% interest credit.
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Incorporate gender neutral language relating to marriage in Wis. Stats. 102.51(1)(a).
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Clarify duties between DWD’s Worker’s Compensation (WC) Division and the Department of Administration’s (DOA) Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) with respect to closing cases.
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Provide that the statute limitations begins to run on the date an order is issued by DHA that approves a compromise agreement, and that subsequent claims will not be time-barred except by the applicable statute of limitations.
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Correct citations to mirror federal rehabilitation law.
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Increase the amount of large Uninsured Employer Fund (UEF) claims that require reimbursement from worker’s compensation insurance carriers from $1 million to $2 million.
