SCS/SB 270 - This act reorganizes four sections of Workers' Compensation Law, modifies provisions involving proof of insurance and the reporting of injuries, and repeals a section relating to the intrastate modification rate.

Sole proprietor, partners (including limited liability partners) and copartners would be included in the definition of "employer".

EXEMPT, BUT MAY OPT IN - SECTION 287.090. The following employers and employees are exempt under this act, but may opt in: (1) Farm labor and domestic servants; (2) State prison inmates and mental health residents; (3) Family members owning a family farm corporation; (4) Qualified real estate agents.

INCLUDED, BUT MAY OPT OUT - SECTION 287.091. The following employers are included under Workers' Compensation Law, but may opt out: (1) Owner & operator of leased/contracted motor vehicle with driver with commercial driver's license; (2) Volunteers of charitable organizations pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (3) Sole proprietors with family members; (4) Adjudicators, sports officials or contest workers for interscholastic activities or amateur youth programs; (5) 2 or fewer owners/employees of a corporation.

PROOF OF INSURANCE TO OBTAIN BUSINESS LICENSE. SECTION 287.061 would require any city or county to receive a certificate of workers' compensation insurance from contractors only before issuing an occupational or business license. Currently, this applies to all applicants for such licenses.

REPORTING OF INJURIES. SECTION 287.380 would require all injuries to be reported in the same way, regardless of the amount of medical costs (currently injuries costing less than $500 are reported differently).

MOVES SECTION 287.037 TO SECTION 287.091. Section 287.037 requires limited liability companies to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage to employees, although members may exempt out. The date of repeal of section 287.037 coincides with the date of enactment of 287.091 (1/1/98 or renewal date of the policy).

REPEALS SECTION 287.337, which requires rates and rating systems for construction employees to be based on the intrastate modification rate if the employer has a credible Missouri intrastate modification rate--employers without such a rate are subjected to a higher rate.

Portions of this act are similar to SBs 730, 733 and 844 (1996). Sections 287.061 and 287.380 become effective 8/28/97, and the remaining sections become effective 1/1/98 or on the renewal date of the policy.
MARGARET TOALSON