An Act To Promote Compliance with the Workers' Compensation Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 39-A MRSA §359, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. A, §8 and affected by §§9 to 11, is amended to read:
2. Penalty. In addition to any other penalty assessment permitted under this Act, the board may assess civil penalties not to exceed $10,000 $100,000 upon finding, after hearing, that an employer, insurer or 3rd-party administrator for an employer has engaged in a pattern of questionable claims-handling techniques or repeated unreasonably contested claims. The board shall certify its findings to the Superintendent of Insurance, who shall take appropriate action so as to bring any such practices to a halt. This certification by the board is exempt from the provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act.
summary
This bill raises the penalty amount from $10,000 to $100,000 for any employer, insurer or 3rd-party administrator for an employer who has engaged in a pattern of questionable workers' compensation claims-handling techniques or repeated unreasonably contested claims.