Legislation in Kentucky that would place time limits on benefits for certain injured workers was passed last week by the Senate. Now the bill will go to the House for consideration and if they accept the revisions of the Senate the bill will go to Republican Governor Matt Bevin.

House Bill 2 would place a cap on benefits for workers filing for permanent, partial disability to 15 years from the date of injury. Under current law workers claiming permanent, partial disability can receive benefits for the entirety of the disability. If necessary, workers can apply for two-year extensions.

Labor advocates are opposed to the bill, saying it is unfair to cap these kinds of injuries because they can last a lifetime. They also point to decreasing premiums in the state and say that there is no justification to make changes like this at the expense of workers.

Senate President Robert Stivers said that it “gives certainty to the industry for what their costs and liabilities would be.”

If the bill is passed the new legislation would apply to new cases and not existing cases. Workers with permanent, total disability would still receive lifetime benefits.

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