Georgia Law Enforcement and First Responders Seek to Release Indemnification Funds Automatically in Light of Georgia Workers’ Compensation Concerns
Several Georgia lawmakers introduced legislation this last legislative session that would have automatically released funds from Georgia’s Indemnification Program for Public Officers and Educators to close an apparent “loophole” that leaves first responders and law enforcement officials without their full pay if they are injured on the job and unable to return to work. According to local news reports, hearing concerns from paramedics and other first responders, two senators, one a republican from District and the other a democrat representing District 10, introduced Senate Bill 279, “to automate access to the funds for law enforcement specifically.” The legislation was introduced after lawmakers became aware that paramedics and others, such as first responder Kim Van De Walker, who was injured on the job while responding to the 2016 Georgia wildfires in North Georgia. Van De Walker was injured while working for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, after her vehicle flipped on her while she was carrying equipment and water to rescue sites. Van De Walker broke her back, crushed her arm, and suffered head wounds, a concussion, and puncture wounds. After finding out that Georgia workers’ compensation laws entitled her to only 2/3 of her weekly paycheck, she ended up moving into a friend’s basement. However, first responders and other law enforcement officers who are injured on the job may also be entitled to funds from the Indemnification Program for First Responders. The two lawmakers that spearheaded SB 279 sought to close the seeming “loophole” between injured first responders in need and access to the funds, by making payments automatic.
While SB 279 appears to not have made it to the Governor’s desk for signing this legislative session, reports indicate that, the two senators “…ended up getting the bill language written into HB 105, which passed the senate on April 2nd, two days before sine die (the last day of legislative session).” According to the HB 105 homepage, the legislation was signed into law on May 8 of this year, and became effective that same day. Of the legislation and efforts to compensate injured first responders and other emergency personnel, Van De Walker said, “When your house is on fire or being threatened by a wildfire, don’t you want to know that somebody’s coming…But then when they get hurt, then nobody’s there to help put humpty dumpty back together. This is bigger than me.”
Getting Legal Help After a Workplace Injury in Decatur – Decatur Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
It is important for Decatur workers to know that under Georgia workers’ compensation laws, most workers who are injured on the job in Georgia and who are unable to work as a result are entitled to Georgia workers’ compensation benefits. In order to determine if you are entitled to Georgia workers’ compensation benefits after your workplace injury, it is best to speak with an experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible about your case. The experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyers at the O’Connell Law Firm are here to help Decatur workers get workers’ compensation benefits due to them. Contact the O’Connell Law Firm today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
11alive.com/article/news/investigations/11alive-news-investigates/georgia-first-responders-injured-in-the-line-of-duty-paychecks-docked/85-f688ee75-3b63-4bcc-981f-1e6faace3fdd
