(NASHVILLE) — This week, Republican lawmakers passed legislation sponsored by State Representative Jimmy Eldridge (R—Jackson) that improves workers’ compensation benefits for Tennesseans.
House Bill 325, part of Governor Haslam’s legislative package for the year, authorizes the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to use money from the Subsequent Injury & Vocational Recovery Fund to provide job recovery assistance and education to employees limited by a work-related injury who may not be able to return to their current job. The legislation is also designed to cut down on the number of fraud cases involving workers’ compensation claims across the state.
“The State of Tennessee has led the way in workers’ compensation reform over the past several years,” said Representative Eldridge. “As lawmakers, it is imperative that we protect Tennesseans who suffer work-related injuries from the burdens of medical expenses and lost wages while they are not able to work. I’m pleased that House Bill 325 goes one step further by enabling Tennessee workers to utilize education in order to find additional employment opportunities, should they not be able to return to their current position.”
House Bill 325 is the latest in a series of laws designed to protect Tennessee workers who have been injured on the job. In 2013, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed the Workers’ Compensation Reform Act in order to provide more certainty for business while also protecting the interests of employees across the state.
The full text of House Bill 325 can be accessed by visiting the Tennessee General Assembly website at: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/110/Bill/HB0325.pdf
Jimmy Eldridge is a member of the House Local Government and House Calendar & Rules Committee. He is also the Chairman of the House Consumer & Human Resources Committee and a member of the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee. Eldridge lives in Jackson and represents House District 73, which is part of Madison County. He can be reached by email at: [email protected] or by calling (615) 741-7475.
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