WORKERS' COMP: VOLUNTEER DIVERS - H.B. 5107: COMMITTEE SUMMARY


House Bill 5107 (as passed by the House)

Sponsor: Representative Jerry Vander Roest

House Committee: Employment Relations, Training and Safety

Senate Committee: Human Resources and Labor


Date Completed: 5-15-02


CONTENT


The bill would amend the Worker's Disability Compensation Act to include on-call members of a volunteer underwater diving team as employees under the Act.


Currently, on-call members of a fire department, whether paid or unpaid, who contract with or receive reimbursement from one or more counties, cities, villages, or townships are entitled to all the benefits of the Act when they are personally injured in the performance of their duties as on-call members of a fire department. The bill would extend this provision to on-call members of a volunteer underwater diving team.


In addition, the bill specifies that for the purpose of calculating the weekly rate of compensation provided under the Act, on-call members of a volunteer underwater diving team would be considered to be receiving the State average weekly wage at the time of the injury, as last determined under Section 355, from the fire department. If a member's average weekly wage were greater than the State average weekly wage at the time of the injury, the member's weekly rate of compensation would have to be determined based on his or her average weekly wage. (Under Section 355, the maximum weekly rate is adjusted once each year in accordance with the increase or decrease in the average weekly rate in covered employment, as determined by the Bureau of Worker's and Unemployment Compensation.)


MCL 418.161 - Legislative Analyst: Nobuko Nagata


FISCAL IMPACT


The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


- Fiscal Analyst: Maria TyszkiewiczS0102\s5107sa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.