Legislation would increase comp benefits

Legislation introduced Monday in Indiana proposes to increase benefits for injuries and disablements by 2% each year over a three-year period.

S.B. 202, sponsored by Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, would increase the benefits paid for each degree of permanent impairment and raise the average weekly wages for computing temporary total, partial and permanent disability maximum from $1,170 per week to a maximum of $1,241 for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2022.

The maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, would also increase from $390,000 for injuries occurring before July 1, 2020 to $414,000 for those that occur on or after July 1, 2022.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor. If signed into law, it would take effect July 1, 2020.