Second Bill to Increase Benefits Passes House & Senate
SB 653 by Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), passed the Texas House of representatives on May 14, 2015. The bill will now go to Governor Greg Abbott for his signature. SB 653 has already passed the Senate on a record vote of 29-1. The bill proposes to increase the amount of burial benefits required to be paid by an insurance carrier under the workers’ compensation system from the present maximum payment of $6,000 to a maximum payment of $10,000.
HB 653 is the second bill passed this legislative session that increases benefits for workers’ compensation claimants. It joins SB 901, also by Sen. Eltife, which passed both houses several weeks ago.
SB 901 raises the low-wage-earner threshold for increased TIBs benefits from $8.50 per hour to $10.00 per hour. Employees who meet that criteria are entitled to 75% of their AWW for up to the first 26 weeks of their disability.
If signed by the governor, SB 653 will take effect September 1, 2015.
FOLIO
