Bill > S1310

This bill seeks to enhance protections for injured workers by making several key changes to existing labor laws. The bill requires the department of labor to promptly investigate workers' compensation claims and report findings, regardless of whether a case is currently active. It expands the definition of "earnings" to include all wages an employer was legally required to pay, and mandates that if an employer fails to pay full wages, they must indemnify the workers' compensation insurer for any additional compensation owed. The bill also strengthens anti-retaliation provisions, creating a rebuttable presumption of discrimination if an adverse action is taken against an employee within 90 days of exercising a workers' compensation right. Employers must now provide workers' compensation notices in multiple languages and in visible, accessible locations. The bill allows aggrieved workers to file complaints with the attorney general or initiate civil actions within three years, with potential remedies including treble damages, attorneys' fees, and injunctive relief. These changes aim to provide more comprehensive protection for workers who are injured on the job or seek to assert their rights under workers' compensation laws.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1310