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H.B. 384 Enrolled

             1     

EMPLOYEE OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO

             2     
WORKERS' COMPENSATION

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Michael T. Morley

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Workers' Compensation Act to address an employee's duties
             11      related to workers' compensation.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines terms;
             15          .    addresses reductions in disability compensation under certain circumstances;
             16          .    provides for adjudication;
             17          .    addresses application of certain provisions to a local governmental entity or state
             18      institution of higher education;
             19          .    addresses the scope of the provisions;
             20          .    provides for rulemaking;
             21          .    addresses incarceration or unlawful employment related to permanent total
             22      disabilities; and
             23          .    makes technical changes.
             24      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:


             30          34A-2-410, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 81
             31          34A-2-413, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 295
             32      ENACTS:
             33          34A-2-410.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34     
             35      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             36          Section 1. Section 34A-2-410 is amended to read:
             37           34A-2-410. Temporary disability -- Amount of payments -- State average weekly
             38      wage defined.
             39          (1) (a) [In] Subject to Subsections (1)(b) and (5), in case of temporary disability, so
             40      long as the disability is total, the employee shall receive 66-2/3% of that employee's average
             41      weekly wages at the time of the injury but:
             42          (i) not more than a maximum of 100% of the state average weekly wage at the time of
             43      the injury per week; and
             44          (ii) (A) subject to Subsections (1)(a)(ii)(B) and (C), not less than a minimum of $45 per
             45      week plus:
             46          (I) $5 for a dependent spouse; and
             47          (II) $5 for each dependent child under the age of 18 years, up to a maximum of four
             48      dependent children[,];
             49          (B) not to exceed the average weekly wage of the employee at the time of the injury[,
             50      but]; and
             51          (C) not to exceed 100% of the state average weekly wage at the time of the injury per
             52      week.
             53          (b) In no case shall the compensation benefits exceed 312 weeks at the rate of 100% of
             54      the state average weekly wage at the time of the injury over a period of 12 years from the date
             55      of the injury.
             56          (2) [In the event] If a light duty medical release is obtained [prior to] before the
             57      employee [reaching] reaches a fixed state of recovery[,] and [when] no light duty employment is


             58      available to the employee from the employer, temporary disability benefits shall continue to be
             59      paid.
             60          (3) The "state average weekly wage" as referred to in this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah
             61      Occupational Disease Act, shall be determined by the commission as follows:
             62          (a) On or before June 1 of each year, the total wages reported on contribution reports
             63      to the Unemployment Insurance Division for the preceding calendar year shall be divided by the
             64      average monthly number of insured workers determined by dividing the total insured workers
             65      reported for the preceding year by 12.
             66          (b) The average annual wage obtained under Subsection (3)(a) shall be divided by 52.
             67          (c) The average weekly wage determined under Subsection (3)(b) is rounded to the
             68      nearest dollar.
             69          (4) The state average weekly wage determined under Subsection (3) shall be used as the
             70      basis for computing the maximum compensation rate for:
             71          (a) injuries or disabilities arising from occupational disease that occurred during the
             72      [twelve-month] 12-month period commencing July 1 following the June 1 determination; and
             73          (b) any death resulting from the injuries or disabilities arising from occupational disease.
             74          (5) The commission may reduce or terminate temporary disability compensation in
             75      accordance with Section 34-2-410.5 .
             76          Section 2. Section 34A-2-410.5 is enacted to read:
             77          34A-2-410.5. Employee cooperation with reemployment.
             78          (1) As used in this section:
             79          (a) "Controlled substance" is as defined in Section 58-37-2 .
             80          (b) "Correctional facility" means:
             81          (i) a correctional facility as defined in Section 76-8-311.3 ; or
             82          (ii) a facility operated by or contracting with the federal government to house a criminal
             83      offender in either a secure or nonsecure setting.
             84          (c) "Disability claim" means a claim for compensation for:
             85          (i) a temporary total disability benefit; or


             86          (ii) a temporary partial disability benefit.
             87          (d) "Local governmental entity" is as defined in Section 34-41-101 .
             88          (e) "Reemployment" means employment that:
             89          (i) is after an accident or occupational disease that is the basis for a disability claim; and
             90          (ii) in a manner consistent with Subsection (2)(b), offers to an employee an opportunity
             91      for earnings, considering the employee's:
             92          (A) education;
             93          (B) experience; and
             94          (C) physical and mental impairment or condition.
             95          (f) "State institution of higher education" means an institution listed in Section
             96      53B-3-102 .
             97          (g) "Valid prescription" is a prescription, as defined in Section 58-37-2 , that is:
             98          (i) prescribed for a controlled substance for use by the employee for whom it is
             99      prescribed; and
             100          (ii) not altered or forged.
             101          (2) In accordance with this section, the commission may reduce or terminate an
             102      employee's disability compensation for a disability claim for good cause shown by the employer
             103      including if:
             104          (a) the employer terminates the employee from the reemployment and the termination
             105      is:
             106          (i) reasonable;
             107          (ii) for cause; and
             108          (iii) as a result, in whole or in part, of:
             109          (A) criminal conduct;
             110          (B) violent conduct; or
             111          (C) a violation of a reasonable, written workplace health, safety, licensure, or
             112      nondiscrimination rule that is applied in a manner that is reasonable and nondiscriminatory;
             113          (b) the employee is incarcerated in a correctional facility for a period of time that would


             114      result in the termination of the employee's reemployment in accordance with a reasonable,
             115      written workplace rule that is applied in a manner that is reasonable and nondiscriminatory; or
             116          (c) subject to Subsection (6), the employee is terminated from the reemployment:
             117          (i) (A) for use of a controlled substance that the employee did not obtain under a valid
             118      prescription;
             119          (B) for intentional abuse of a controlled substance that the employee obtained under a
             120      valid prescription, if the employee uses the controlled substance intentionally:
             121          (I) in excess of a prescribed therapeutic amount; or
             122          (II) in an otherwise abusive manner; or
             123          (C) for the use of alcohol that results in intoxication from alcohol with a blood or breath
             124      alcohol concentration of .08 grams or greater; and
             125          (ii) in accordance with a reasonable, written workplace rule that is applied in a manner
             126      that is reasonable and nondiscriminatory.
             127          (3) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, the employee described in
             128      Subsection (2) is eligible for medical benefits to the extent otherwise allowed under this title.
             129          (4) (a) An employer or the employer's insurance carrier may file an application for a
             130      hearing with the Division of Adjudication to request that an employee's disability compensation
             131      for a disability claim be reduced or terminated under this section.
             132          (b) An action under this Subsection (4) is barred if an application for a hearing is not
             133      filed within one year from the day on which the employer terminates the employee from
             134      reemployment as described in Subsection (2).
             135          (c) An employer or the employer's insurance carrier shall notify the employee that the
             136      employer or employer's insurance carrier has filed a request for a hearing under this section
             137      within three business days of the day on which the filing is made.
             138          (5) (a) The commission may reduce or terminate the disability compensation of an
             139      employee for a disability claim if after a hearing requested under Subsection (4), the commission
             140      determines that the conditions of Subsection (2) are met.
             141          (b) The commission shall issue an order as to whether or not an employee's disability


             142      compensation is reduced or terminated under this section by no later than 45 days from the day
             143      on which an application for a hearing is filed.
             144          (c) A reduction or termination of disability compensation under this Subsection (5)
             145      takes effect on the day determined by the commission.
             146          (d) If the disability compensation is ordered terminated or reduced, the employer or
             147      employer's insurance carrier shall treat a resulting overpayment as an offset against the
             148      employer's or employer's insurance carrier's future obligations to pay disability compensation to
             149      the employee.
             150          (6) (a) For purposes of Subsection (2)(c), the commission may consider a chemical test
             151      that conforms to scientifically accepted analytical methods and procedures and includes
             152      verification or confirmation of any positive test result by gas chromatography, gas
             153      chromatography-mass spectroscopy, or other comparably reliable analytical method showing
             154      that the employee has:
             155          (i) in the employee's system during employment:
             156          (A) any amount of a controlled substance or its metabolites if the employee did not
             157      obtain the controlled substance under a valid prescription; or
             158          (B) a controlled substance the employee obtained under a valid prescription or the
             159      metabolites of the controlled substance if the amount in the employee's system is consistent with
             160      the employee using the controlled substance intentionally:
             161          (I) in excess of prescribed therapeutic amounts; or
             162          (II) in an otherwise abusive manner; or
             163          (ii) a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .08 grams or greater during employment.
             164          (b) A local governmental entity or state institution of higher education shall comply
             165      with Title 34, Chapter 41, Local Governmental Entity Drug-Free Workplace Policies, in
             166      engaging in a test for a controlled substance that is the basis of a presumption under this
             167      section.
             168          (7) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             169      commission may make rules:


             170          (a) describing factors to be considered under Subsection (2); and
             171          (b) related to the procedures for a request for a hearing under this section.
             172          (8) The adjudication of a dispute arising under this section is governed by Part 8,
             173      Adjudication.
             174          (9) An issue related to an employee's cooperation with regard to a claim for
             175      compensation for permanent total disability benefits is governed by Section 34A-2-413 .
             176          Section 3. Section 34A-2-413 is amended to read:
             177           34A-2-413. Permanent total disability -- Amount of payments -- Rehabilitation.
             178          (1) (a) In [cases] the case of a permanent total disability resulting from an industrial
             179      accident or occupational disease, the employee shall receive compensation as outlined in this
             180      section.
             181          (b) To establish entitlement to permanent total disability compensation, the employee
             182      must prove by a preponderance of evidence that:
             183          (i) the employee sustained a significant impairment or combination of impairments as a
             184      result of the industrial accident or occupational disease that gives rise to the permanent total
             185      disability entitlement;
             186          (ii) the employee is permanently totally disabled; and
             187          (iii) the industrial accident or occupational disease [was] is the direct cause of the
             188      employee's permanent total disability.
             189          (c) To establish that an employee is permanently totally disabled the employee must
             190      prove by a preponderance of the evidence that:
             191          (i) the employee is not gainfully employed;
             192          (ii) the employee has an impairment or combination of impairments that limit the
             193      employee's ability to do basic work activities;
             194          (iii) the industrial or occupationally caused impairment or combination of impairments
             195      prevent the employee from performing the essential functions of the work activities for which
             196      the employee has been qualified until the time of the industrial accident or occupational disease
             197      that is the basis for the employee's permanent total disability claim; and


             198          (iv) the employee cannot perform other work reasonably available, taking into
             199      consideration the employee's:
             200          (A) age;
             201          (B) education;
             202          (C) past work experience;
             203          (D) medical capacity; and
             204          (E) residual functional capacity.
             205          (d) Evidence of an employee's entitlement to disability benefits other than those
             206      provided under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act, if relevant:
             207          (i) may be presented to the commission;
             208          (ii) is not binding; and
             209          (iii) creates no presumption of an entitlement under this chapter and Chapter 3, Utah
             210      Occupational Disease Act.
             211          (e) In determining under Subsections (1)(b) and (c) whether an employee cannot
             212      perform other work reasonably available, the following may not be considered:
             213          (i) whether the employee is incarcerated in a facility operated by or contracting with a
             214      federal, state, county, or municipal government to house a criminal offender in either a secure or
             215      nonsecure setting; or
             216          (ii) whether the employee is not legally eligible to be employed because of a reason
             217      unrelated to the impairment or combination of impairments.
             218          (2) For permanent total disability compensation during the initial 312-week entitlement,
             219      compensation [shall be] is 66-2/3% of the employee's average weekly wage at the time of the
             220      injury, limited as follows:
             221          (a) compensation per week may not be more than 85% of the state average weekly
             222      wage at the time of the injury;
             223          (b) (i) subject to Subsection (2)(b)(ii), compensation per week may not be less than the
             224      sum of $45 per week[, plus] and:
             225          (A) $5 for a dependent spouse[, plus]; and


             226          (B) $5 for each dependent child under the age of 18 years, up to a maximum of four
             227      dependent minor children[, but not exceeding]; and
             228          (ii) the amount calculated under Subsection (2)(b)(i) may not exceed:
             229          (A) the maximum established in Subsection (2)(a) [nor exceeding]; or
             230          (B) the average weekly wage of the employee at the time of the injury; and
             231          (c) after the initial 312 weeks, the minimum weekly compensation rate under
             232      Subsection (2)(b) [shall be] is 36% of the current state average weekly wage, rounded to the
             233      nearest dollar.
             234          (3) This Subsection (3) applies to claims resulting from an accident or disease arising
             235      out of and in the course of the employee's employment on or before June 30, 1994.
             236          (a) The employer or its insurance carrier is liable for the initial 312 weeks of permanent
             237      total disability compensation except as outlined in Section 34A-2-703 as in effect on the date of
             238      injury.
             239          (b) The employer or its insurance carrier may not be required to pay compensation for
             240      any combination of disabilities of any kind, as provided in this section and Sections 34A-2-410
             241      through 34A-2-412 and Part 5, Industrial Noise, in excess of the amount of compensation
             242      payable over the initial 312 weeks at the applicable permanent total disability compensation rate
             243      under Subsection (2).
             244          (c) [Any] The Employers' Reinsurance Fund shall for an overpayment of [this]
             245      compensation [shall be reimbursed] described in Subsection (3)(b), reimburse the overpayment:
             246          (i) to the employer or its insurance carrier [by the Employers' Reinsurance Fund]; and
             247      [shall be paid]
             248          (ii) out of the Employers' Reinsurance Fund's liability to the employee.
             249          (d) After an employee [has received] receives compensation from the employee's
             250      employer, its insurance carrier, or the Employers' Reinsurance Fund for any combination of
             251      disabilities amounting to 312 weeks of compensation at the applicable permanent total disability
             252      compensation rate, the Employers' Reinsurance Fund shall pay all remaining permanent total
             253      disability compensation.


             254          (e) Employers' Reinsurance Fund payments shall commence immediately after the
             255      employer or its insurance carrier [has satisfied] satisfies its liability under this Subsection (3) or
             256      Section 34A-2-703 .
             257          (4) This Subsection (4) applies to claims resulting from an accident or disease arising
             258      out of and in the course of the employee's employment on or after July 1, 1994.
             259          (a) The employer or its insurance carrier is liable for permanent total disability
             260      compensation.
             261          (b) The employer or its insurance carrier may not be required to pay compensation for
             262      any combination of disabilities of any kind, as provided in this section and Sections 34A-2-410
             263      through 34A-2-412 and Part 5, Industrial Noise, in excess of the amount of compensation
             264      payable over the initial 312 weeks at the applicable permanent total disability compensation rate
             265      under Subsection (2).
             266          (c) [Any overpayment of this compensation shall be recouped by the] The employer or
             267      its insurance carrier may recoup the overpayment of compensation described in Subsection (4)
             268      by reasonably offsetting the overpayment against future liability paid before or after the initial
             269      312 weeks.
             270          (5) Notwithstanding the minimum rate established in Subsection (2), [the compensation
             271      payable by the] an employer, its insurance carrier, or the Employers' Reinsurance Fund, after an
             272      employee [has received] receives compensation from the employer or the employer's insurance
             273      carrier for any combination of disabilities amounting to 312 weeks of compensation at the
             274      applicable total disability compensation rate, shall [be reduced,] reduce the compensation
             275      payable:
             276          (a) to the extent allowable by law[,]; and
             277          (b) by the dollar amount of 50% of the Social Security retirement benefits received by
             278      the employee during the same period.
             279          (6) (a) A finding by the commission of permanent total disability is not final, unless
             280      otherwise agreed to by the parties, until:
             281          (i) an administrative law judge reviews a summary of reemployment activities


             282      undertaken pursuant to Chapter 8, Utah Injured Worker Reemployment Act;
             283          (ii) the employer or its insurance carrier submits to the administrative law judge:
             284          (A) a reemployment plan as prepared by a qualified rehabilitation provider reasonably
             285      designed to return the employee to gainful employment; or
             286          (B) notice that the employer or its insurance carrier will not submit a plan; and
             287          (iii) the administrative law judge, after notice to the parties, holds a hearing, unless
             288      otherwise stipulated, to:
             289          (A) consider evidence regarding rehabilitation; and
             290          (B) review any reemployment plan submitted by the employer or its insurance carrier
             291      under Subsection (6)(a)(ii).
             292          (b) Before commencing the procedure required by Subsection (6)(a), the administrative
             293      law judge shall order:
             294          (i) the initiation of permanent total disability compensation payments to provide for the
             295      employee's subsistence; and
             296          (ii) the payment of any undisputed disability or medical benefits due the employee.
             297          (c) Notwithstanding Subsection (6)(a), an order for payment of benefits described in
             298      Subsection (6)(b) is considered a final order for purposes of Section 34A-2-212 .
             299          (d) The employer or its insurance carrier shall be given credit for any disability
             300      payments made under Subsection (6)(b) against its ultimate disability compensation liability
             301      under this chapter or Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.
             302          (e) An employer or its insurance carrier may not be ordered to submit a reemployment
             303      plan. If the employer or its insurance carrier voluntarily submits a plan, the plan is subject to
             304      Subsections (6)(e)(i) through (iii).
             305          (i) The plan may include, but not require an employee to pay for:
             306          (A) retraining[,];
             307          (B) education[,];
             308          (C) medical and disability compensation benefits[,];
             309          (D) job placement services[,]; or


             310          (E) incentives calculated to facilitate reemployment [funded by the employer or its
             311      insurance carrier].
             312          (ii) The plan shall include payment of reasonable disability compensation to provide for
             313      the employee's subsistence during the rehabilitation process.
             314          (iii) The employer or its insurance carrier shall diligently pursue the reemployment plan.
             315      The employer's or insurance carrier's failure to diligently pursue the reemployment plan [shall
             316      be] is cause for the administrative law judge on the administrative law judge's own motion to
             317      make a final decision of permanent total disability.
             318          (f) If a preponderance of the evidence shows that successful rehabilitation is not
             319      possible, the administrative law judge shall order that the employee be paid weekly permanent
             320      total disability compensation benefits.
             321          (g) If a preponderance of the evidence shows that pursuant to a reemployment plan, as
             322      prepared by a qualified rehabilitation provider and presented under Subsection (6)(e), an
             323      employee could immediately or without unreasonable delay return to work but for the
             324      following, an administrative law judge shall order that the employee be denied the payment of
             325      weekly permanent total disability compensation benefits:
             326          (i) incarceration in a facility operated by or contracting with a federal, state, county, or
             327      municipal government to house a criminal offender in either a secure or nonsecure setting; or
             328          (ii) not being legally eligible to be employed because of a reason unrelated to the
             329      impairment or combination of impairments.
             330          (7) (a) The period of benefits commences on the date the employee became
             331      permanently totally disabled, as determined by a final order of the commission based on the
             332      facts and evidence, and ends:
             333          (i) with the death of the employee; or
             334          (ii) when the employee is capable of returning to regular, steady work.
             335          (b) An employer or its insurance carrier may provide or locate for a permanently totally
             336      disabled employee reasonable, medically appropriate, part-time work in a job earning at least
             337      minimum wage [provided that employment], except that the employee may not be required to


             338      accept the work to the extent that it would disqualify the employee from Social Security
             339      disability benefits.
             340          (c) An employee shall:
             341          (i) fully cooperate in the placement and employment process; and
             342          (ii) accept the reasonable, medically appropriate, part-time work.
             343          (d) In a consecutive four-week period when an employee's gross income from the work
             344      provided under Subsection (7)(b) exceeds $500, the employer or insurance carrier may reduce
             345      the employee's permanent total disability compensation by 50% of the employee's income in
             346      excess of $500.
             347          (e) If a work opportunity is not provided by the employer or its insurance carrier, a
             348      permanently totally disabled employee may obtain medically appropriate, part-time work subject
             349      to the offset provisions [contained in] of Subsection (7)(d).
             350          (f) (i) The commission shall establish rules regarding the part-time work and offset.
             351          (ii) The adjudication of disputes arising under this Subsection (7) is governed by Part 8,
             352      Adjudication.
             353          (g) The employer or its insurance carrier [shall have] has the burden of proof to show
             354      that medically appropriate part-time work is available.
             355          (h) The administrative law judge may:
             356          (i) excuse an employee from participation in any [job] work:
             357          (A) that would require the employee to undertake work exceeding the employee's:
             358          (I) medical capacity [and]; or
             359          (II) residual functional capacity; or
             360          (B) for good cause; or
             361          (ii) allow the employer or its insurance carrier to reduce permanent total disability
             362      benefits as provided in Subsection (7)(d) when reasonable, medically appropriate, part-time
             363      [employment has been] work is offered, but the employee [has failed] fails to fully cooperate.
             364          (8) When an employee [has been] is rehabilitated or the employee's rehabilitation is
             365      possible but the employee has some loss of bodily function, the award shall be for permanent


             366      partial disability.
             367          (9) As determined by an administrative law judge, an employee is not entitled to
             368      disability compensation, unless the employee fully cooperates with any evaluation or
             369      reemployment plan under this chapter or Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act. The
             370      administrative law judge shall dismiss without prejudice the claim for benefits of an employee if
             371      the administrative law judge finds that the employee fails to fully cooperate, unless the
             372      administrative law judge states specific findings on the record justifying dismissal with prejudice.
             373          (10) (a) The loss or permanent and complete loss of the use of the following constitutes
             374      total and permanent disability that is compensated according to this section:
             375          (i) both hands[,];
             376          (ii) both arms[,];
             377          (iii) both feet[,];
             378          (iv) both legs[,];
             379          (v) both eyes[,]; or
             380          (vi) any combination of two [such] body members [constitutes total and permanent
             381      disability, to be compensated according to this section] described in this Subsection (10)(a).
             382          (b) A finding of permanent total disability pursuant to Subsection (10)(a) is final.
             383          (11) (a) An insurer or self-insured employer may periodically reexamine a permanent
             384      total disability claim, except those based on Subsection (10), for which the insurer or
             385      self-insured employer had or has payment responsibility to determine whether the [worker]
             386      employee remains permanently totally disabled.
             387          (b) Reexamination may be conducted no more than once every three years after an
             388      award is final, unless good cause is shown by the employer or its insurance carrier to allow
             389      more frequent reexaminations.
             390          (c) The reexamination may include:
             391          (i) the review of medical records;
             392          (ii) employee submission to one or more reasonable medical evaluations;
             393          (iii) employee submission to one or more reasonable rehabilitation evaluations and


             394      retraining efforts;
             395          (iv) employee disclosure of Federal Income Tax Returns;
             396          (v) employee certification of compliance with Section 34A-2-110 ; and
             397          (vi) employee completion of one or more sworn affidavits or questionnaires approved
             398      by the division.
             399          (d) The insurer or self-insured employer shall pay for the cost of a reexamination with
             400      appropriate employee reimbursement pursuant to rule for reasonable travel allowance and per
             401      diem as well as reasonable expert witness fees incurred by the employee in supporting the
             402      employee's claim for permanent total disability benefits at the time of reexamination.
             403          (e) If an employee fails to fully cooperate in the reasonable reexamination of a
             404      permanent total disability finding, an administrative law judge may order the suspension of the
             405      employee's permanent total disability benefits until the employee cooperates with the
             406      reexamination.
             407          (f) (i) [Should] If the reexamination of a permanent total disability finding [reveal]
             408      reveals evidence that reasonably raises the issue of an employee's continued entitlement to
             409      permanent total disability compensation benefits, an insurer or self-insured employer may
             410      petition the Division of Adjudication for a rehearing on that issue. The [petition] insurer or
             411      self-insured employer shall [be accompanied by] include with the petition, documentation
             412      supporting the insurer's or self-insured employer's belief that the employee is no longer
             413      permanently totally disabled.
             414          (ii) If the petition under Subsection (11)(f)(i) demonstrates good cause, as determined
             415      by the Division of Adjudication, an administrative law judge shall adjudicate the issue at a
             416      hearing.
             417          (iii) Evidence of an employee's participation in medically appropriate, part-time work
             418      may not be the sole basis for termination of an employee's permanent total disability entitlement,
             419      but the evidence of the employee's participation in medically appropriate, part-time work under
             420      Subsection (7) may be considered in the reexamination or hearing with other evidence relating
             421      to the employee's status and condition.


             422          (g) In accordance with Section 34A-1-309 , the administrative law judge may award
             423      reasonable [attorneys] attorney fees to an attorney retained by an employee to represent the
             424      employee's interests with respect to reexamination of the permanent total disability finding,
             425      except if the employee does not prevail, the [attorneys] attorney fees shall be set at $1,000. The
             426      [attorneys] attorney fees awarded shall be paid by the employer or its insurance carrier in
             427      addition to the permanent total disability compensation benefits due.
             428          (h) During the period of reexamination or adjudication if the employee fully cooperates,
             429      each insurer, self-insured employer, or the Employers' Reinsurance Fund shall continue to pay
             430      the permanent total disability compensation benefits due the employee.
             431          (12) If any provision of this section, or the application of any provision to any person or
             432      circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of this section [shall be] is given effect without the
             433      invalid provision or application.
             434          Section 4. Effective date.
             435          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.


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