Georgia Employment Law Update — May 2019

Kentucky Employment Law Update — May 2019
May 20, 2019
Florida Employment Law Update — May 2019
May 20, 2019
Kentucky Employment Law Update — May 2019
May 20, 2019
Florida Employment Law Update — May 2019
May 20, 2019

Georgia

Workers’ Compensation Amendments

On May 7, 2019, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation (S.B. 135) amending the state’s workers’ compensation law by changing the following provisions related to workers’ compensation administration and benefits:

  • For injuries arising on or after July 1, 2013, that are not designated as catastrophic, the 400-week maximum period cap is not applicable to the following care, treatment, services, and items when prescribed by an authorized physician:
    • Maintenance, repair, revision, replacement, or removal of any prosthetic device, provided that the prosthetic device was originally furnished within 400 weeks of the date of injury or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment;
    • Maintenance, repair, revision, replacement, or removal of a spinal cord stimulator or intrathecal pump device, provided that such items were originally furnished within 400 weeks of the date of injury or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment; and
    • Maintenance, repair, revision, replacement, or removal of durable medical equipment, orthotics, corrective eyeglasses, or hearing aids, provided that such items were originally furnished within 400 weeks of the date of injury or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment.
  • While the disability to work resulting from an injury is temporarily total, the employer must pay the employee two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage, up to $675 per week and no less than $50 per week. If the weekly wage is below $50, the employer must pay that amount.
  • Where the disability to work resulting from the injury is partial in character but temporary in quality, the employer must pay the employee two-thirds of the difference between the average weekly wage before the injury and the average weekly wage the employee is able to earn thereafter, up to $450 per week for up to 350 weeks from the date of injury.
  • The total compensation payable to a surviving spouse as a sole dependent at the time of death and where there is no other dependent for one year or less after the death is $270,000.

The law is effective July 1, 2019.

Read GA S.B. 135

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