Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to provide that COVID-19 vaccination-related accidents or injuries shall be compensable.

Adds to existing law to provide that COVID-19 vaccination-related accidents or injuries shall be compensable.

Whether or not an employer can mandate that an employee receive a vaccination is arguable not settled and this legislation should not be construed to indicate support for or against employer vaccine mandates. This legislation specifies that injuries, arising from employer mandated vaccinations, shall be compensable under the Idaho workers compensation laws of Idaho.

Repeals and adds to existing law to provide for settlement agreements.

The purpose of this bill is to streamline the worker's compensation settlement process for the involved parties, employers and injured workers, who choose to settle their respective claims, rather than go to hearing (trial). Currently, the settlement process is cumbersome, slow, and private party agreements require approval of the Industrial Commissioners. This bill eliminates the requirement of approval of the Industrial Commissioners, except for settlements involving minors or legally incompetent persons. The Industrial Commission would still require the parties to submit information regarding settlements.

Amends existing law to provide that the attorney member of the Industrial Commission be appointed through the Judicial Council.

The purpose of this legislation is to improve the process by which the Governor selects the candidate to be appointed as the attorney representative on the Industrial Commission. These changes will make the process of recruiting and selecting the attorney representative by the Governor more efficient. It should also lead to a larger applicant pool and overall higher quality applicants. Currently, the Governor’s office seeks out applicants to apply for this position. This legislation would place responsibility for recruitment of applicants, processing applications and doing initial interviews of applicants with the Judicial Council with assistance from the Idaho State Bar. The Judicial Council would use the same process they currently use with candidates for open district judge and appellate judge positions. At the end of its process, the Judicial Council would present two to four names to the Governor for his consideration for appointment as the attorney representative to the Industrial Commission.