Senate Votes to Raise Compensation for Orphans and Widows of Workers Killed on the Job

SB 110 increases compensation for college age orphans, burial costs.

Oregon State Capitol Salem-News.com photo by Tim King

(SALEM, Ore.) - Legislation to increase benefits provided to the families of Oregon workers killed on the job or permanently and totally disabled from their work was approved by the Oregon Senate this morning.

“This legislation honors the memory of Oregonians who have experienced the tragedy of work place death and disabling injuries,” said Sen. Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), chair of the Senate Commerce and Workforce Development Committee.

“We have an obligation to make sure that the loved ones left behind receive proper help in their time of need.”

SB 110 makes changes to worker’s compensation law in three areas. First, SB 110 increases the current allowances for covering funeral expenses for workers killed on the job from ten to twenty times the state average weekly wage.

Second, the bill increases support for college-aged children of single parents who lose that parent in a work place accident.

This will give students who have relied on the help of a single parent the resources to continue their college education.

Third, SB 110 clarifies that if a permanently disabled worker has no surviving spouse or dependent children an insurer must pay the full remainder of a disability benefit to the worker’s estate.

“Senate Democrats stand by their commitment to working families across Oregon,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin (D-Tualatin). “We are fortunate the number of these accidents a year is minimal, but the affect on Oregon families who face these circumstances is life-altering and we need to compensate them accordingly.”

The legislation approved today is the product of SB 835 from the 2007 session. That bill requested the Workers’ Compensation Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) to study the adequacy of death benefits in the workers’ compensation system. Those recommendations were included in SB 110 passed today.

“In 2007, we heard from Oregon families had lost a loved one to an on-the-job injury or death,” said Senator Vicki Walker (D-Eugene), who was the sponsor of SB 835 in 2007. “It was obvious we needed to do more. The legislation passed today goes a significant way towards helping these families in their time of need.”

SB 110 will now move to the House for consideration.