Oregon governor signs workers comp employer fraud bill

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek on Wednesday signed into law legislation that creates criminal penalties for employers that falsify payroll records to lower workers compensation premiums.

The measure, Senate Bill 1580, says any employer that submits a false payroll report to the Workers’ Compensation Board, its chairperson or the director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to get a decreased workers comp rate commits a Class A misdemeanor. Violators face a maximum fine of $125,000 plus financial restitution.

The measure received final legislative approval Wednesday.