The act specifies that independent contractors providing application of agricultural materials used in crop dusting, seeding, spraying or fertilizing operations from an aircraft are not statutory employees for the purposes or workers' compensation.

This act exempts veterans' organization volunteers who are not paid wages from coverage under workers' compensation statutes.

An explanation of benefits delivered with final payment evidencing that the payment is considered to be full payment of the medical charges in a workers' compensation case shall serve as a notice of dispute of the charges.

This act allows the Division of Workers' Compensation to continue to pay, on an ongoing basis, Second Injury Fund liabilities for physical rehabilitation payments; medical expenses for injuries to employees of uninsured employers occurring prior to January 1, 2014; and wage loss benefits for wages lost from secondary employment for injuries occurring prior to January 1, 2014, without regard to the priority of other fund liability payments.

Under current law, employers are barred from discharging or discriminating against employees for exercising rights under the workers' compensation statutes. This act only bars such treatment when the employee's action is the exclusive cause of the discharge or discrimination.

Under current law, the experience modification of employers are not adjusted for medical costs under $1,000. This act changes that threshold to medical costs that do not exceed 20% of the current split point for primary and excess losses under the uniform experience rating plan.

The act allows construction employers to submit payroll information to the advisory organization that makes the uniform classification system in order to calculate the premium credit under the Missouri contracting classification premium adjustment program.

Certain provisions of this act are identical to SB 948 (2014), HB 2136 (2014), and HB 1997 (2014).

CHRIS HOGERTY