Legislature passes lump-sum comp settlement bill

Injured workers in Washington state would have the option of receiving lump-sum settlements under a bill delivered to Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday.

The Senate passed S.B. 5046 49-0 on Feb. 10, and the state House of Representatives voted 98-0 to pass the bill on April 5.

Reforms enacted 10 years ago included a provision that for the first time allowed injured workers to settle their claims and receive structured payments. S.B. 5046 would give injured workers the option to receive settlement payments in a lump sum or on a structured basis.

The measure includes an emergency clause and would take effect immediately if signed into law.

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