By Mr. Cabral of New Bedford, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1776) of Antonio F. D. Cabral for legislation to provide for the notification of employers of lumpsum settlements in workers' compensation cases.  Labor and Workforce Development.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Antonio F. D. Cabral

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to notify employers of lump sum worker's compensation settlements.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Subsection (1) of section 48 of chapter 152 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following three sentences:—
Under the conditions and limitations specified in this chapter, the insurer and employee may, by written agreement, redeem any liability for compensation, in whole or in part, by the payment by the insurer of a lump sum amount. The insurer shall notify the employer, if such employer is an experience modified insured, of any proceeding at which such agreement is to be presented to the department for approval. Such employer shall have the right to attend the proceeding and to provide comments to the department concerning the proposed lump sum settlement.