Senate Bill 2997

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 71-3-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO ARE INJURED DUE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT SHALL RECEIVE A CERTAIN INCREASED AMOUNT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE THESE BENEFITS FOR SUCH INJURY BEGIN; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH BENEFITS ARE SUBORDINATE TO OTHER DISABILITY COMPENSATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 71-3-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

71-3-17. Compensation for disability shall be paid to the employee as follows:

(a) Permanent total disability: In case of total disability adjudged to be permanent, sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the average weekly wages of the injured employee, subject to the maximum limitations as to weekly benefits as set up in this chapter, shall be paid to the employee not to exceed four hundred fifty (450) weeks or an amount greater than the multiple of four hundred fifty (450) weeks times sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the average weekly wage for the state. Loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or both eyes, or of any two (2) thereof shall constitute permanent total disability. In all other cases permanent total disability shall be determined in accordance with the facts.

(b) Temporary total disability: In case of disability, total in character but temporary in quality, sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the average weekly wages of the injured employee, subject to the maximum limitations as to weekly benefits as set up in this chapter, shall be paid to the employee during the continuance of such disability not to exceed four hundred fifty (450) weeks or an amount greater than the multiple of four hundred fifty (450) weeks times sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the average weekly wage for the state. Provided, however, if there arises a conflict in medical opinions of whether or not the claimant has reached maximum medical recovery and the claimant's benefits have terminated by the carrier, then the claimant may demand an immediate hearing before the commissioner upon five (5) days' notice to the carrier for a determination by the commission of whether or not in fact the claimant has reached maximum recovery.

(c) Permanent partial disability: In case of disability partial in character but permanent in quality, the compensation shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the average weekly wages of the injured employee, subject to the maximum limitations as to weekly benefits as set up in this chapter, which shall be paid following compensation for temporary total disability paid in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, and shall be paid to the employee as follows:

Member Lost Number Weeks Compensation

(i) Arm 200

(ii) Leg 175

(iii) Hand 150

(iv) Foot 125

(v) Eye 100

(vi) Thumb 60

(vii) First finger 35

(viii) Great toe 30

(ix) Second finger 30

(x) Third finger 20

(xi) Toe other than great toe 10

(xii) Fourth finger 15

(xiii) Testicle, one 50

(xiv) Testicle, both 150

(xv) Breast, female, one 50

(xvi) Breast, female, both 150

(xvii) Loss of hearing: Compensation for loss of hearing of one (1) ear, forty (40) weeks. Compensation for loss of hearing of both ears, one hundred fifty (150) weeks.

(xviii) Phalanges: Compensation for loss of more than one (1) phalange of a digit shall be the same as for loss of the entire digit. Compensation for loss of the first phalange shall be one-half (1/2) of the compensation for loss of the entire digit.

(xix) Amputated arm or leg: Compensation for an arm or leg, if amputated at or above wrist or ankle, shall be for the loss of the arm or leg.

(xx) Binocular vision or percent of vision: Compensation for loss of binocular vision or for eighty percent (80%) or more of the vision of an eye shall be the same as for loss of the eye.

(xxi) Two (2) or more digits: Compensation for loss of two (2) or more digits, or one (1) or more phalanges of two (2) or more digits, of a hand or foot may be proportioned to the loss of the use of the hand or foot occasioned thereby, but shall not exceed the compensation for loss of a hand or foot.

(xxii) Total loss of use: Compensation for permanent total loss of use of a member shall be the same as for loss of the member.

(xxiii) Partial loss or partial loss of use: Compensation for permanent partial loss or loss of use of a member may be for proportionate loss or loss of use of the member.

(xxiv) Disfigurement: The commission, in its discretion, is authorized to award proper and equitable compensation for serious facial or head disfigurements not to exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). No such award shall be made until a lapse of one (1) year from the date of the injury resulting in such disfigurement.

(xv) Other cases: In all other cases in this class of disability, the compensation shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the difference between his average weekly wages, subject to the maximum limitations as to weekly benefits as set up in this chapter, and his wage-earning capacity thereafter in the same employment or otherwise, payable during the continuance of such partial disability, but subject to reconsideration of the degree of such impairment by the commission on its own motion or upon application of any party in interest. Such payments shall in no case be made for a longer period than four hundred fifty (450) weeks.

(xxvi) In any case in which there shall be a loss of, or loss of use of, more than one (1) member or parts of more than one (1) member set forth in subparagraphs (i) to (xxiii) of this paragraph (c), not amounting to permanent total disability, the award of compensation shall be for the loss of, or loss of use of, each such member or parts thereof, which awards shall run consecutively, except that where the injury affects only two (2) or more digits of the same hand or foot, subparagraph (xxi) of this paragraph (c) shall apply.

(d) In consideration of the extremely hazardous duties of law enforcement officers and fire fighters while engaged in protecting the lives and property of the citizens of this state:

A sworn law enforcement officer employed by this state or any county or municipality therein who becomes physically disabled, but not permanently disabled, as a result of physical injury incurred in the line of official duty caused by a willful act of violence or unlawful act of another or which injury occurs while in the conduct of a law enforcement or public safety action, or a fire fighter so employed who becomes physically disabled, but not permanently disabled, as a result of a physical injury incurred in the line of duty caused by a willful act of violence or unlawful act of another or while engaged in fighting a fire or other public safety action shall be entitled to receive monthly compensation equal to one hundred percent (100%) of their regular base salary in effect at the time of such injury for the period of time the law enforcement officer or fire fighter is physically unable to perform the duties of his or her employment, not to exceed twelve (12) months from the date such compensation begins. Benefits made available under this section shall be subordinate to other workers' compensation disability or other insurance benefits of any type and shall be limited to the difference between the amount of such workers' compensation, disability or other insurance benefits of any type, or trust fund and the amount of the law enforcement officer's or fire fighter's regular base salary. Such compensation shall not be awarded where a penal violation committed by the disabled law enforcement officer or fire fighter caused the disability.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.