Montana bill would bar workers comp for illegal immigrants

HELENA, Mont.—Montana’s House of Representatives has approved legislation that that would ban illegal immigrants from receiving workers compensation benefits.

In a 69-31 vote Wednesday, the Montana House approved H.B. 71, sponsored by Rep. Gordon Vance, R-Bozeman, and sent the bill to the state Senate, state records show.

Supporters of the legislation reportedly have said it will help reduce workers comp rates, but Democratic opponents argued it could encourage unscrupulous employers to hire illegal immigrants because they would not have to purchase workers comp coverage for them.

On a related front, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals recently ruled that employers cannot deny work comp benefits to illegal immigrants.