130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1430		LR 574(02)
	An Act Regarding the Waiting Period for Compensation for Incapacity To Work under the Maine Workers' Compensation Act of 1992
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Labor and Housing
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium cost increase - Worker's Compensation Management Fund Potential future biennium cost increase - All Funds Potential current biennium cost increase - local units of government
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Under current worker's compensation law, with the exception of firefighters, employees that are temporarily incapacitated are not compensated for the first 7 days of incapacity.  However, if the incapacity extends for 14 days or more, the employee is entitled to compensation dating back to the date of the incapacity.
	Providing that certain employees of the State whose place of employment is a correctional facility or a state mental health institute receive compensation from the initial date of their incapacity may result in increased worker's compensation costs to the Worker's Compensation Management Fund within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services beginning in fiscal year 2021-22.  The impact to the fund will depend on actual experience.
	This provision may also increase costs to the Department of Corrections, the Riverview Psychiatric Center and the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center from increased worker's compensation premiums.  The State, as a self-insured entity, charges each state agency a premium rate that is built into the cost associated with each position with an agency.  That rate is based on the actual claims experience of each agency and is averaged over a three-year period.  The future impact to the premium rate to these 3 state agencies will be based on actual experience.
	Including certain employees of a county or municipality whose place of employment is a county or municipal detention facility under this provision will increase worker's compensation costs to these local units of government.  Again, the impact will depend on actual experience.