H.B. 94

             1     

WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND HOME AND COMMUNITY

             2     
BASED SERVICES

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca P. Edwards

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Workers' Compensation Act to address home and community
             11      based services.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    modifies the definition of employer for purposes of home and community based
             15      services;
             16          .    removes the exemption of certain workers from the definition of employee; and
             17          .    makes technical changes.
             18      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      AMENDS:
             24           34A-2-103 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 346
             25           34A-2-104 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 58
             26     
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             28          Section 1. Section 34A-2-103 is amended to read:
             29           34A-2-103. Employers enumerated and defined -- Regularly employed --
             30      Statutory employers.
             31          (1) (a) The state, and each county, city, town, and school district in the state are
             32      considered employers under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.
             33          (b) For the purposes of the exclusive remedy in this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah
             34      Occupational Disease Act prescribed in Sections 34A-2-105 and 34A-3-102 , the state is
             35      considered to be a single employer and includes any office, department, agency, authority,
             36      commission, board, institution, hospital, college, university, or other instrumentality of the
             37      state.
             38          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4), each person, including each public utility
             39      and each independent contractor, who regularly employs one or more workers or operatives in
             40      the same business, or in or about the same establishment, under any contract of hire, express or
             41      implied, oral or written, is considered an employer under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah
             42      Occupational Disease Act.
             43          (b) As used in this Subsection (2):
             44          (i) "Independent contractor" means any person engaged in the performance of any work
             45      for another who, while so engaged, is:
             46          (A) independent of the employer in all that pertains to the execution of the work;
             47          (B) not subject to the routine rule or control of the employer;
             48          (C) engaged only in the performance of a definite job or piece of work; and
             49          (D) subordinate to the employer only in effecting a result in accordance with the
             50      employer's design.
             51          (ii) "Regularly" includes all employments in the usual course of the trade, business,
             52      profession, or occupation of the employer, whether continuous throughout the year or for only a
             53      portion of the year.
             54          (3) (a) The client under a professional employer organization agreement regulated
             55      under Title 31A, Chapter 40, Professional Employer Organization Licensing Act:
             56          (i) is considered the employer of a covered employee; and
             57          (ii) subject to Section 31A-40-209 , shall secure workers' compensation benefits for a
             58      covered employee by complying with Subsection 34A-2-201 (1) or (2) and commission rules.


             59          (b) The division shall promptly inform the Insurance Department if the division has
             60      reason to believe that a professional employer organization is not in compliance with
             61      Subsection 34A-2-201 (1) or (2) and commission rules.
             62          (4) A domestic employer who does not employ one employee or more than one
             63      employee at least 40 hours per week is not considered an employer under this chapter and
             64      Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.
             65          (5) (a) As used in this Subsection (5):
             66          (i) (A) "agricultural employer" means a person who employs agricultural labor as
             67      defined in Subsections 35A-4-206 (1) and (2) and does not include employment as provided in
             68      Subsection 35A-4-206 (3); and
             69          (B) notwithstanding Subsection (5)(a)(i)(A), only for purposes of determining who is a
             70      member of the employer's immediate family under Subsection (5)(a)(ii), if the agricultural
             71      employer is a corporation, partnership, or other business entity, "agricultural employer" means
             72      an officer, director, or partner of the business entity;
             73          (ii) "employer's immediate family" means:
             74          (A) an agricultural employer's:
             75          (I) spouse;
             76          (II) grandparent;
             77          (III) parent;
             78          (IV) sibling;
             79          (V) child;
             80          (VI) grandchild;
             81          (VII) nephew; or
             82          (VIII) niece;
             83          (B) a spouse of any person provided in [Subsection] Subsections (5)(a)(ii)(A)(II)
             84      through (VIII); or
             85          (C) an individual who is similar to those listed in Subsection (5)(a)(ii)(A) or (B) as
             86      defined by rules of the commission; and
             87          (iii) "nonimmediate family" means a person who is not a member of the employer's
             88      immediate family.
             89          (b) For purposes of this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, an


             90      agricultural employer is not considered an employer of a member of the employer's immediate
             91      family.
             92          (c) For purposes of this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, an
             93      agricultural employer is not considered an employer of a nonimmediate family employee if:
             94          (i) for the previous calendar year the agricultural employer's total annual payroll for all
             95      nonimmediate family employees was less than $8,000; or
             96          (ii) (A) for the previous calendar year the agricultural employer's total annual payroll
             97      for all nonimmediate family employees was equal to or greater than $8,000 but less than
             98      $50,000; and
             99          (B) the agricultural employer maintains insurance that covers job-related injuries of the
             100      employer's nonimmediate family employees in at least the following amounts:
             101          (I) $300,000 liability insurance, as defined in Section 31A-1-301 ; and
             102          (II) $5,000 for health care benefits similar to benefits under health care insurance as
             103      defined in Section 31A-1-301 .
             104          (d) For purposes of this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, an
             105      agricultural employer is considered an employer of a nonimmediate family employee if:
             106          (i) for the previous calendar year the agricultural employer's total annual payroll for all
             107      nonimmediate family employees is equal to or greater than $50,000; or
             108          (ii) (A) for the previous year the agricultural employer's total payroll for nonimmediate
             109      family employees was equal to or exceeds $8,000 but is less than $50,000; and
             110          (B) the agricultural employer fails to maintain the insurance required under Subsection
             111      (5)(c)(ii)(B).
             112          (6) An employer of agricultural laborers or domestic servants who is not considered an
             113      employer under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, may come under
             114      this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, by complying with:
             115          (a) this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act; and
             116          (b) the rules of the commission.
             117          (7) (a) (i) As used in this Subsection (7)(a), "employer" includes any of the following
             118      persons that procures work to be done by a contractor notwithstanding whether or not the
             119      person directly employs a person:
             120          (A) a sole proprietorship;


             121          (B) a corporation;
             122          (C) a partnership;
             123          (D) a limited liability company; or
             124          (E) a person similar to one described in Subsections (7)(a)(i)(A) through (D).
             125          (ii) If an employer procures any work to be done wholly or in part for the employer by
             126      a contractor over whose work the employer retains supervision or control, and this work is a
             127      part or process in the trade or business of the employer, the contractor, all persons employed by
             128      the contractor, all subcontractors under the contractor, and all persons employed by any of
             129      these subcontractors, are considered employees of the original employer for the purposes of
             130      this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.
             131          (b) Any person who is engaged in constructing, improving, repairing, or remodeling a
             132      residence that the person owns or is in the process of acquiring as the person's personal
             133      residence may not be considered an employee or employer solely by operation of Subsection
             134      (7)(a).
             135          (c) A partner in a partnership or an owner of a sole proprietorship is not considered an
             136      employee under Subsection (7)(a) if the employer who procures work to be done by the
             137      partnership or sole proprietorship obtains and relies on either:
             138          (i) a valid certification of the partnership's or sole proprietorship's compliance with
             139      Section 34A-2-201 indicating that the partnership or sole proprietorship secured the payment of
             140      workers' compensation benefits pursuant to Section 34A-2-201 ; or
             141          (ii) if a partnership or sole proprietorship with no employees other than a partner of the
             142      partnership or owner of the sole proprietorship, a workers' compensation coverage waiver
             143      issued pursuant to Part 10, Workers' Compensation Coverage Waivers Act, stating that:
             144          (A) the partnership or sole proprietorship is customarily engaged in an independently
             145      established trade, occupation, profession, or business; and
             146          (B) the partner or owner personally waives the partner's or owner's entitlement to the
             147      benefits of this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, in the operation of the
             148      partnership or sole proprietorship.
             149          (d) A director or officer of a corporation is not considered an employee under
             150      Subsection (7)(a) if the director or officer is excluded from coverage under Subsection
             151      34A-2-104 (4).


             152          (e) A contractor or subcontractor is not an employee of the employer under Subsection
             153      (7)(a), if the employer who procures work to be done by the contractor or subcontractor obtains
             154      and relies on either:
             155          (i) a valid certification of the contractor's or subcontractor's compliance with Section
             156      34A-2-201 ; or
             157          (ii) if a partnership, corporation, or sole proprietorship with no employees other than a
             158      partner of the partnership, officer of the corporation, or owner of the sole proprietorship, a
             159      workers' compensation coverage waiver issued pursuant to Part 10, Workers' Compensation
             160      Coverage Waivers Act, stating that:
             161          (A) the partnership, corporation, or sole proprietorship is customarily engaged in an
             162      independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business; and
             163          (B) the partner, corporate officer, or owner personally waives the partner's, corporate
             164      officer's, or owner's entitlement to the benefits of this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah
             165      Occupational Disease Act, in the operation of the partnership's, corporation's, or sole
             166      proprietorship's enterprise under a contract of hire for services.
             167          (f) (i) For purposes of this Subsection (7)(f), "eligible employer" means a person who:
             168          (A) is an employer; and
             169          (B) procures work to be done wholly or in part for the employer by a contractor,
             170      including:
             171          (I) all persons employed by the contractor;
             172          (II) all subcontractors under the contractor; and
             173          (III) all persons employed by any of these subcontractors.
             174          (ii) Notwithstanding the other provisions in this Subsection (7), if the conditions of
             175      Subsection (7)(f)(iii) are met, an eligible employer is considered an employer for purposes of
             176      Section 34A-2-105 of the contractor, subcontractor, and all persons employed by the contractor
             177      or subcontractor described in Subsection (7)(f)(i)(B).
             178          (iii) Subsection (7)(f)(ii) applies if the eligible employer:
             179          (A) under Subsection (7)(a) is liable for and pays workers' compensation benefits as an
             180      original employer under Subsection (7)(a) because the contractor or subcontractor fails to
             181      comply with Section 34A-2-201 ;
             182          (B) (I) secures the payment of workers' compensation benefits for the contractor or


             183      subcontractor pursuant to Section 34A-2-201 ;
             184          (II) procures work to be done that is part or process of the trade or business of the
             185      eligible employer; and
             186          (III) does the following with regard to a written workplace accident and injury
             187      reduction program that meets the requirements of Subsection 34A-2-111 (3)(d):
             188          (Aa) adopts the workplace accident and injury reduction program;
             189          (Bb) posts the workplace accident and injury reduction program at the work site at
             190      which the eligible employer procures work; and
             191          (Cc) enforces the workplace accident and injury reduction program according to the
             192      terms of the workplace accident and injury reduction program; or
             193          (C) (I) obtains and relies on:
             194          (Aa) a valid certification described in Subsection (7)(c)(i) or (7)(e)(i);
             195          (Bb) a workers' compensation coverage waiver described in Subsection (7)(c)(ii) or
             196      (7)(e)(ii); or
             197          (Cc) proof that a director or officer is excluded from coverage under Subsection
             198      34A-2-104 (4);
             199          (II) is liable under Subsection (7)(a) for the payment of workers' compensation benefits
             200      if the contractor or subcontractor fails to comply with Section 34A-2-201 ;
             201          (III) procures work to be done that is part or process in the trade or business of the
             202      eligible employer; and
             203          (IV) does the following with regard to a written workplace accident and injury
             204      reduction program that meets the requirements of Subsection 34A-2-111 (3)(d):
             205          (Aa) adopts the workplace accident and injury reduction program;
             206          (Bb) posts the workplace accident and injury reduction program at the work site at
             207      which the eligible employer procures work; and
             208          (Cc) enforces the workplace accident and injury reduction program according to the
             209      terms of the workplace accident and injury reduction program.
             210          (8) (a) For purposes of this Subsection (8), "unincorporated entity" means an entity
             211      organized or doing business in the state that is not:
             212          (i) an individual;
             213          (ii) a corporation; or


             214          (iii) publicly traded.
             215          (b) For purposes of this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, an
             216      unincorporated entity that is required to be licensed under Title 58, Chapter 55, Utah
             217      Construction Trades Licensing Act, is presumed to be the employer of each individual who
             218      holds, directly or indirectly, an ownership interest in the unincorporated entity.
             219      Notwithstanding Subsection (7)(c) and Subsection 34A-2-104 (3), the unincorporated entity
             220      shall provide the individual who holds the ownership interest workers' compensation coverage
             221      under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, unless the presumption is
             222      rebutted under Subsection (8)(c).
             223          (c) Pursuant to rules made by the commission in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
             224      Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, an unincorporated entity may rebut the presumption
             225      under Subsection (8)(b) for an individual by establishing by clear and convincing evidence that
             226      the individual:
             227          (i) is an active manager of the unincorporated entity;
             228          (ii) directly or indirectly holds at least an 8% ownership interest in the unincorporated
             229      entity; or
             230          (iii) is not subject to supervision or control in the performance of work by:
             231          (A) the unincorporated entity; or
             232          (B) a person with whom the unincorporated entity contracts.
             233          (d) As part of the rules made under Subsection (8)(c), the commission may define:
             234          (i) "active manager";
             235          (ii) "directly or indirectly holds at least an 8% ownership interest"; and
             236          (iii) "subject to supervision or control in the performance of work."
             237          (9) (a) As used in this Subsection (9), "home and community based services" means
             238      one or more of the following services provided to an individual with a disability or to the
             239      individual's family that helps prevent the individual with a disability from being placed in a
             240      more restrictive setting:
             241          (i) respite care;
             242          (ii) skilled nursing;
             243          (iii) nursing assistant services;
             244          (iv) home health aide services;


             245          (v) personal care and attendant services;
             246          (vi) other in-home care, such as support for the daily activities of the individual with a
             247      disability;
             248          (vii) specialized in-home training for the individual with a disability or a family
             249      member of the individual with a disability;
             250          (viii) specialized in-home support, coordination, and other supported living services;
             251      and
             252          (ix) other home and community based services unique to the individual with a
             253      disability or the family of the individual with a disability that help prevent the individual with a
             254      disability from being placed in a more restrictive setting.
             255          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (4), an individual with a disability or designated
             256      representative of the individual with a disability is considered an employer under this chapter
             257      and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, of an individual who provides home and
             258      community based services if the individual with a disability or designated representative of the
             259      individual with a disability:
             260          (i) employs the individual to provide home and community based services for five
             261      hours per week or more; and
             262          (ii) pays the individual providing the home and community based services from state or
             263      federal money received by the person to fund home and community based services, including
             264      through a person designated by the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with Section 3504,
             265      Internal Revenue Code, as a fiduciary, agent, or other person who has the control, receipt,
             266      custody, or disposal of, or pays the wages of, the individual providing the home and
             267      community based services.
             268          Section 2. Section 34A-2-104 is amended to read:
             269           34A-2-104. "Employee," "worker," and "operative" defined -- Specific
             270      circumstances -- Exemptions.
             271          (1) As used in this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, "employee,"
             272      "worker," and "operative" mean:
             273          (a) (i) an elective or appointive officer and any other person:
             274          (A) in the service of:
             275          (I) the state;


             276          (II) a county, city, or town within the state; or
             277          (III) a school district within the state;
             278          (B) serving the state, or any county, city, town, or school district under:
             279          (I) an election;
             280          (II) appointment; or
             281          (III) any contract of hire, express or implied, written or oral; and
             282          (ii) including:
             283          (A) an officer or employee of the state institutions of learning; and
             284          (B) a member of the National Guard while on state active duty; and
             285          (b) a person in the service of any employer, as defined in Section 34A-2-103 , who
             286      employs one or more workers or operatives regularly in the same business, or in or about the
             287      same establishment:
             288          (i) under any contract of hire:
             289          (A) express or implied; and
             290          (B) oral or written;
             291          (ii) including aliens and minors, whether legally or illegally working for hire; and
             292          (iii) not including any person whose employment:
             293          (A) is casual; and
             294          (B) not in the usual course of the trade, business, or occupation of the employee's
             295      employer.
             296          (2) (a) Unless a lessee provides coverage as an employer under this chapter and
             297      Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, any lessee in mines or of mining property and each
             298      employee and sublessee of the lessee shall be:
             299          (i) covered for compensation by the lessor under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah
             300      Occupational Disease Act;
             301          (ii) subject to this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act; and
             302          (iii) entitled to the benefits of this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease
             303      Act, to the same extent as if the lessee, employee, or sublessee were employees of the lessor
             304      drawing the wages paid employees for substantially similar work.
             305          (b) The lessor may deduct from the proceeds of ores mined by the lessees an amount
             306      equal to the insurance premium for that type of work.


             307          (3) (a) A partnership or sole proprietorship may elect to include any partner of the
             308      partnership or owner of the sole proprietorship as an employee of the partnership or sole
             309      proprietorship under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.
             310          (b) If a partnership or sole proprietorship makes an election under Subsection (3)(a),
             311      the partnership or sole proprietorship shall serve written notice upon its insurance carrier
             312      naming the persons to be covered.
             313          (c) A partner of a partnership or owner of a sole proprietorship may not be considered
             314      an employee of the partner's partnership or the owner's sole proprietorship under this chapter or
             315      Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, until the notice described in Subsection (3)(b) is
             316      given.
             317          (d) For premium rate making, the insurance carrier shall assume the salary or wage of
             318      the partner or sole proprietor electing coverage under Subsection (3)(a) to be 100% of the
             319      state's average weekly wage.
             320          (4) (a) A corporation may elect not to include any director or officer of the corporation
             321      as an employee under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.
             322          (b) If a corporation makes an election under Subsection (4)(a), the corporation shall
             323      serve written notice naming the individuals who are directors or officers to be excluded from
             324      coverage:
             325          (i) upon its insurance carrier, if any; or
             326          (ii) upon the commission if the corporation is self-insured or has no employee other
             327      than the one or more directors or officers being excluded.
             328          (c) A corporation may exclude no more than five individuals who are directors or
             329      officers under Subsection (4)(b)(ii).
             330          (d) An exclusion under this Subsection (4) is subject to Subsection 34A-2-103 (7)(d).
             331          (e) A director or officer of a corporation is considered an employee under this chapter
             332      and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, until the notice described in Subsection (4)(b)
             333      is given.
             334          (f) The commission may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             335      Administrative Rulemaking Act, regarding the form of the notice described in Subsection
             336      (4)(b)(ii), including a requirement to provide documentation, if any.
             337          (5) As used in this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, "employee,"


             338      "worker," and "operative" do not include:
             339          (a) a sales agent or associate broker, as defined in Section 61-2f-102 , who performs
             340      services in that capacity for a principal broker if:
             341          (i) substantially all of the sales agent's or associate broker's income for services is from
             342      real estate commissions; and
             343          (ii) the sales agent's or associate broker's services are performed under a written
             344      contract that provides that:
             345          (A) the real estate agent is an independent contractor; and
             346          (B) the sales agent or associate broker is not to be treated as an employee for federal
             347      income tax purposes;
             348          (b) an offender performing labor under Section 64-13-16 or 64-13-19 , except as
             349      required by federal statute or regulation;
             350          (c) an individual who for an insurance producer, as defined in Section 31A-1-301 ,
             351      solicits, negotiates, places, or procures insurance if:
             352          (i) substantially all of the individual's income from those services is from insurance
             353      commissions; and
             354          (ii) the services of the individual are performed under a written contract that states that
             355      the individual:
             356          (A) is an independent contractor;
             357          (B) is not to be treated as an employee for federal income tax purposes; and
             358          (C) can derive income from more than one insurance company; or
             359          [(d) notwithstanding Subsection 34A-2-103 (4), an individual who provides domestic
             360      work for a person if:]
             361          [(i) the person for whom the domestic work is being provided receives or is eligible to
             362      receive the domestic work under a state or federal program designed to pay the costs of
             363      domestic work to prevent the person from being placed in:]
             364          [(A) an institution; or]
             365          [(B) a more restrictive placement than where that person resides at the time the person
             366      receives the domestic work;]
             367          [(ii) the individual is paid by a person designated by the Secretary of the Treasury in
             368      accordance with Section 3504, Internal Revenue Code, as a fiduciary, agent, or other person


             369      that has the control, receipt, custody, or disposal of, or pays the wages of the individual; and]
             370          [(iii) the domestic work is performed under a written contract that notifies the
             371      individual that the individual is not an employee under this chapter or Chapter 3, Utah
             372      Occupational Disease Act; or]
             373          [(e)] (d) subject to Subsections (6), (7), and (8), an individual who:
             374          (i) (A) owns a motor vehicle; or
             375          (B) leases a motor vehicle to a motor carrier;
             376          (ii) personally operates the motor vehicle described in Subsection (5)[(e)](d)(i);
             377          (iii) operates the motor vehicle described in Subsection (5)[(e)](d)(i) under a written
             378      agreement with the motor carrier that states that the individual operates the motor vehicle as an
             379      independent contractor; and
             380          (iv) (A) provides to the motor carrier at the time the written agreement described in
             381      Subsection (5)[(e)](d)(iii) is executed or as soon after the execution as provided by the
             382      commission, a copy of a workers' compensation coverage waiver issued pursuant to Part 10,
             383      Workers' Compensation Coverage Waivers Act, to the individual; and
             384          (B) provides to the motor carrier at the time the written agreement described in
             385      Subsection (5)[(e)](d)(iii) is executed or as soon after the execution as provided by an insurer,
             386      proof that the individual is covered by occupational accident related insurance with the
             387      coverage and benefit limits listed in Subsection (7)(c).
             388          (6) An individual described in Subsection (5)(d) [or (e)] may become an employee
             389      under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, if the employer of the
             390      individual complies with:
             391          (a) this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act; and
             392          (b) commission rules.
             393          (7) For purposes of Subsection (5)[(e)](d):
             394          (a) "Motor carrier" means a person engaged in the business of transporting freight,
             395      merchandise, or other property by a commercial vehicle on a highway within this state.
             396          (b) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle intended primarily for use and
             397      operation on the highways, including a trailer or semitrailer designed for use with another
             398      motorized vehicle.
             399          (c) "Occupational accident related insurance" means insurance that provides the


             400      following coverage at a minimum aggregate policy limit of $1,000,000 for all benefits paid,
             401      including medical expense benefits, for an injury sustained in the course of working under a
             402      written agreement described in Subsection (5)[(e)](d)(iii):
             403          (i) disability benefits;
             404          (ii) death benefits; and
             405          (iii) medical expense benefits, which include:
             406          (A) hospital coverage;
             407          (B) surgical coverage;
             408          (C) prescription drug coverage; and
             409          (D) dental coverage.
             410          (8) For an individual described in Subsection (5)[(e)](d), the commission shall verify
             411      the existence of occupational accident insurance coverage with the coverage and benefit limits
             412      listed in Subsection (7)(c) before the commission may issue a workers' compensation coverage
             413      waiver to the individual pursuant to Part 10, Workers' Compensation Coverage Waivers Act.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-30-14 5:22 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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