Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 288 First Substitute (2018GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Ivory, K.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/19/2018

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• makes it unlawful for an employer to:
• interfere with an employee's ability to seek workers' compensation benefits; or
• retaliate against an employee for seeking workers' compensation benefits; and
• provides penalties for violating a provision of this bill.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ken Ivory
Senate Sponsor: 
Karen Mayne
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill enacts provisions related to claiming workers' compensation benefits.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ makes it unlawful for an employer to:
• interfere with an employee's ability to seek workers' compensation benefits; or
• retaliate against an employee for seeking workers' compensation benefits; and
▸ provides penalties for violating a provision of this bill.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
34A-2-114
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
34A-2-114
 is enacted to read:
 34A-2-114.
Unlawful interference -- Penalties.
(1) An employer may not knowingly or intentionally:
(a) impede or diminish an employee's efforts to make a claim or receive workers'
compensation benefits under this chapter or Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act; or
(b) intimidate, coerce, or harass an employee with the intent of preventing the
employee from making a claim or receiving workers' compensation benefits under this chapter
or Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act.
(2) An employer may not suspend, discharge, discipline, threaten to discharge or
discipline, or otherwise retaliate against an employee solely because the employee:
(a) claims or attempts to claim workers' compensation benefits under this chapter or
Chapter 3, Utah Occupational Disease Act;
(b) reports an employer's noncompliance with a provision of this chapter or Chapter 3,
Utah Occupational Disease Act; or
(c) testifies or intends to testify in a workers' compensation proceeding.
(3) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act, the
division may impose a fine of up to $5,000 against an employer for each violation of
Subsection (1) or (2).
(4) The division shall deposit any money collected under this section into the
Uninsured Employers' Fund created in Section 
34A-2-704
.
(5) This section does not affect the rights or obligations of an employee or employer
under common law.