Politics

Mo. Gen. Assembly Sends Second Injury Fund Fix/Workers' Comp Bill To Gov. Nixon

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published May 16, 2013 at 5:02 PM CDT

Legislation that would revive Missouri's ailing Second Injury Fund and seek to reduce the number of occupational disease lawsuits was passed Thursday by theMissouri House. It had already passed theMissouri Senateduring pre-dawn hours on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1 would temporarily double the surcharge businesses pay into the Second Injury Fund in order to deal with a backlog of more than a thousand cases. It would also place occupational disease claims in Missouri within the workers' compensation system and provides enhanced payments for those suffering from cancer and other diseases caused by toxic exposure. State Representative Todd Richardson (R, Poplar Bluff) handled the bill in the House.

"This is not a perfect piece of legislation, but it's something that it was critically important for the state to get done and take a step forward in this direction," Richardson said. "I don't think anybody is under the delusion that this is the last workers' compensation bill we'regonnahave."

House Democrats were split, with about half voting "yes" with the Republicans. Minority Floor Leader Jacob Hummel (D, St. Louis) used his Twitter account to blast the workers' comp portion, saying that it places a price on human life. However, two high-profile Democrats, Attorney General Chris Koster and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, are praising the bill's passage. It now goes to Governor Jay Nixon (D), who's expected to sign it into law.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

Tags

Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

Marshall Griffin

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.