State senator introduces bill to gut regulations protecting workers

State Senator Harry Brown, a business owner, has introduced Senate Bill 174, which, if it became law, would repeal a large number of regulations currently in place at the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Many of these regulations are important for the protection of injured workers. For example, the bill would repeal the regulations governing emergency medical motions, which are important when an injured worker’s doctor says the worker needs medical treatment but the employer won’t pay for it. Also, the bill would repeal the rule covering reinstatement of compensation, when a worker has tried to go back to work but can’t do his former job because of the injury. The bill passed first reading and was referred to the Commerce Committee. We will keep you posted about developments for this bill. Please call us if you have any questions.