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Utah workers’ comp fund plans no changes

The Utah Workers Compensation Fund, an insurance pool that pays Utah residents who are injured on the job, has dropped plans to restrict benefits.

Earlier, UWCF officials considered asking for a change in state law to tighten eligibility for lost wages. They said too many people were being paid despite being able to perform other work.

But amid much opposition at a meeting, President Lane Summerhays said the request won’t be made. The UWCF recently came under fire for proposing workers’ eligibility to benefits be evaluated. Based on its proposal, some, including Hispanics, interpreted UWCF’s actions as trying to do away with benefits for illegal immigrants, although Summerhays insisted they were not a target.

“He’s saying our community is full of criminals” attorney Mike Martinez said.

Earlier, Summerhays said changes in regulations were needed because the fund was losing too many cases involving people it believed can do some work. Even people in jail sometimes continue to get paid, he said. But he later acknowledged: “We put forth a stupid proposal”

“We saw unintended consequences and threw it out,” he said at a meeting of a business-labor group that advises the fund.

UWCF also issued the following statement:

“Workers Compensation Fund has a long-standing history of providing benefits to injured workers regardless of their immigration status and will continue to do so.

“Recent media reports and rumors suggest that a proposed bill by UWCF might be an attempt to take advantage of undocumented workers, by denying them benefits after an injury received on the job. The proposed bill addressed returning an injured employee to work on a part-time or light-duty basis.

“There appears to be unintended consequences to undocumented workers in the proposal, and we are withdrawing it from consideration by the Labor Commission’s Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council.

“Workers Compensation Fund will continue its efforts to educate the Hispanic community on their rights and benefits regarding workers’ compensation insurance, as well as actively seek out ways to better protect them on the job. Workers Compensation Fund is planning opportunities to meet with community leaders to answer concerns about the issue.”

Questions regarding workers’ compensation are being directed to Greg Summerhays at 801-288-8311 or gsummerh@wcfgroup.com.

c:Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Workers' Compensation