Provides that certain workers' compensation payments shall be made in one lump sum without commutation to a present value amount

2 Co-sponsors

• Bill Perkins
• Diane J. Savino

Title of bill

An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to the payment of compensation

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would change the payment structure to injured workers for permanent partial disability from incremental payments to one lump sum.

Section 1 of the bill amends section 25(1) (b) of the Workers' Compensation Law to require that an award of compensation for permanent partial disability shall be payable in one lump sum upon the request of the injured employee.

Section 2 of the bill amends section 15(3) (u) of the Workers' Compensation Law to require that a total or partial loss of use of more than one member or parts of members shall be fully payable in one lump sum upon the request of the injured employee.

Justification

Injured workers who suffer permanent functional limitations to extremities or certain other body parts are typically compensated for such losses by a schedule loss of use award. Such awards, calculated after deducting the amount of lost time benefits paid to the claimant, provide the injured worker with a cushion against the diminished future earning capacity caused by his or her permanent functional impairment.

The Workers' Compensation Board has recognized that it is entirely consistent with the economic and humanitarian objects of the Workers' compensation Law to pay such schedule loss of use awards to the injured worker in one lump sum, rather than periodically over time. In Lacroix v. Syracuse Executive Air Service 25 A.D. 3d 967 (2006), the Appellate Division, Third Department affirmed the Workers' Compensation Board's approval of the lump sum payment of schedule loss of use awards. That decision, however, was reversed by the New York Court of Appeals in LaCroix v. Syracuse Executive Air Service, 8 N.Y.3d 348(2007}. While recognizing that a schedule loss of use award seeks to compensate the injured worker for loss of earning power, the Court of Appeals ruled that the Board's policy contravened the language of the Worker's Compensation Law and that any departure from the periodic method of payment of schedule loss of use awards must come from the Legislature.

Lump sum payments allow injured workers to invest their award if they choose and better prepare for the adverse financial and emotional effects of their resulting diminished earning capacity. This bill allows an injured worker to request that their award be paid as a lump sum.

Prior legislative history

2008: A.10879 Reported to Ways and Means

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act would take effect immediately.