Bill > HB1709

This bill modifies provisions related to workers' compensation administrative law judges by making several key changes. The bill revises the process for reviewing and potentially removing administrative law judges, establishing new grounds for disciplinary action that include criminal offenses, misconduct, and professional incompetence. It eliminates the previous system of periodic retention votes for administrative law judges and replaces it with a more direct mechanism where the division director can file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission to remove a judge. The bill also adjusts compensation structures for administrative law judges, removing the position of chief legal counsel and standardizing salary calculations based on associate circuit judge rates. Additionally, the bill modifies provisions related to permanent total disability benefits, including clarifying rules about suspending life payments when an employee is restored to work and adding specific provisions for occupational diseases due to toxic exposure. The changes aim to provide more flexibility in managing administrative law judges and clarify compensation and benefit rules in workers' compensation cases, with particular attention to toxic exposure and disability claims.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1709&year=2026&code=R