House Votes to Amend Idaho Workers’ Comp Laws

The Idaho House voted 50-16 to change how Idaho State Insurance Fund pays dividends to workers’ compensation policy holders.

The measure has already cleared the Senate and now goes to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

The bill doesn’t include retroactive provisions from a previous measure that failed in the Senate.

Lawyers who sued the fund argued those sought to undermine their case after a March 5 Idaho Supreme Court decision concluded all policyholders must share in dividends.

The fund had been making payouts only to larger policyholders — and wants to continue the practice.

Rep. Max Black, a Republican from Boise and a member of the State Insurance Fund board, told legislators the bill would help protect the fund.

Rep. Bill Killen, a Boise Democrat, opposed the measure, arguing remaining retroactive provisions sought to reinvent history.