Bill > HB1543

This bill modifies the workers' compensation law to expand who can receive payment when an employee dies from a work-related injury. Currently, compensation is typically paid to dependents, but this bill broadens the definition of eligible recipients to include a wider range of family members when no direct dependents exist. Specifically, the bill allows payments to be made to adult children (including adopted, natural, and posthumous), parents, grandparents, siblings, adult next of kin, or a conservator of a dependent child who cannot represent themselves. The bill also clarifies that any unpaid compensation at the time of the employee's death will be distributed to these family members, whereas previously such payments might have been limited. Additionally, the legislation explicitly rejects a previous Missouri Supreme Court case (Schoemehl v. Treasurer of the State of Missouri) that likely had a more restrictive interpretation of compensation eligibility. By expanding the definition of who can receive workers' compensation death benefits, the bill aims to provide more comprehensive financial support to the families of deceased workers.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1543&year=2025&code=R