Bill Text: NY A08124 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to workers' compensation; establishes the advisory committee on independent medical examinations to advise, counsel and confer with the chair and executive director on matters of policy in connection with the administration and enforcement of laws and regulations relating to independent medical examinations; establishes within the workers' compensation board an office of the independent medical examination inspector general; relates to cost-of-living adjustments of disability benefits; provides that maximum charges and fees for funeral expenses shall not be less than twelve thousand dollars; relates to cost-of-living adjustments of death benefits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-06 - referred to labor [A08124 Detail]
Download: New_York-2015-A08124-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 8124 2015-2016 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y June 9, 2015 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. TITUS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, the executive law, the insurance law, the civil service law and the penal law, in relation to workers' compensation; and to repeal certain provisions of the work- ers' compensation law relating thereto THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 10 of the workers' compensation 2 law is REPEALED. 3 S 2. Section 12 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by chap- 4 ter 500 of the laws of 1965, is amended to read as follows: 5 S 12. Compensation not allowed for first seven days. No compensation 6 shall be allowed for the first seven days of disability, except the 7 benefits provided for in section thirteen of this chapter, provided, 8 however, that in case the injury results in disability of more than 9 [fourteen] SEVEN days, the compensation shall be allowed from the date 10 of the disability. 11 S 3. Subdivision 5 of section 13-a of the workers' compensation law, 12 as amended by chapter 6 of the laws of 2007 and as further amended by 13 section 104 of part A of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to 14 read as follows: 15 (5) No claim for specialist consultations, surgical operations, 16 physiotherapeutic or occupational therapy procedures, x-ray examinations 17 or special diagnostic laboratory tests costing more than [one] TWO thou- 18 sand dollars shall be valid and enforceable, as against such employer, 19 unless such special services shall have been authorized by the employer 20 or by the board, or unless such authorization has been unreasonably 21 withheld, or withheld for a period of more than [thirty] SEVEN calendar 22 days from receipt of a request for authorization, or unless such special 23 services are required in an emergency, provided, however, that the basis EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11499-01-5 A. 8124 2 1 for a denial of such authorization by the employer must be based on a 2 conflicting second opinion rendered by a physician authorized by the 3 board. The board, with the approval of the superintendent of financial 4 services, shall issue and maintain a list of pre-authorized procedures 5 under this section. SUCH LIST OF PRE-AUTHORIZED PROCEDURES SHALL BE 6 ISSUED AND MAINTAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPEDITING AUTHORIZATION OF 7 TREATMENT OF INJURED WORKERS. SUCH LIST OF PRE-AUTHORIZED PROCEDURES 8 SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED OR RELIED UPON TO SUPPORT THE PREMISE THAT PROCE- 9 DURES NOT INCLUDED ON THE PRE-AUTHORIZED LIST SHOULD BE DENIED. PRE-AU- 10 THORIZED PROCEDURES SHALL NOT BE GIVEN PREFERENCE OVER ALTERNATIVE FORMS 11 OF TREATMENT THAT ARE NOT ON THE PRE-AUTHORIZED PROCEDURES LIST. 12 S 4. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 7 of section 13-a of the workers' 13 compensation law, as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2007, is amended 14 to read as follows: 15 (c) At the time a request for authorization for special diagnostic 16 tests, x-ray examinations, magnetic resonance imaging or other radiolog- 17 ical examinations or tests costing more than [one] TWO thousand dollars 18 as required by subdivision five of this section is approved, the insur- 19 ance carrier, self-insurer or state insurance fund, or if so delegated 20 the network with which the insurance carrier, self-insurer or state 21 insurance fund has contracted, shall notify the physician requesting 22 authorization of the requirement that the claimant obtain or undergo the 23 special diagnostic test, x-ray examination, magnetic resonance imaging 24 or other radiological examination or test with a provider or at a facil- 25 ity affiliated with the network or networks with which it has 26 contracted, the contact information for the network and a list of the 27 providers and facilities within the claimant's geographic location, as 28 defined by regulation of the board. The claimant, in consultation with 29 the provider who requested the special diagnostic test, x-ray examina- 30 tion, magnetic resonance imaging or other radiological test or exam, 31 will determine the provider or facility from within the network which 32 will perform such diagnostic test, x-ray examination, magnetic resonance 33 imaging or other radiological examination or test. 34 S 5. Section 2 of the workers' compensation law is amended by adding a 35 new subdivision 24 to read as follows: 36 24. "EXAMINER" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIED AND AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM 37 INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS THIRTEEN-B AND 38 THIRTEEN-BB OF THIS CHAPTER AND REGISTERED WITH THE BOARD PURSUANT TO 39 SECTION THIRTEEN-BB OF THIS CHAPTER. 40 S 6. The workers' compensation law is amended by adding a new section 41 13-bb to read as follows: 42 S 13-BB. REGULATION OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. 1. (A) THERE 43 IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD AN ADVISORY 44 COMMITTEE ON INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF 45 THREE MEMBERS. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR; THE CHIEF 46 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF 47 LABOR-CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF 48 NEW YORK STATE SHALL BE MEMBERS BY VIRTUE OF THEIR OFFICES. THE CHIEF 49 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF 50 LABOR-CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF 51 NEW YORK STATE MAY DESIGNATE REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT IN THEIR PLACE OR 52 STEAD AND ON THEIR BEHALF AS MEMBERS OF SUCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IN 53 ADDITION, THE CHAIR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR OR 54 THEIR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE INVITED TO ATTEND AND PARTIC- 55 IPATE IN ALL MEETINGS. A. 8124 3 1 (B) IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HEREBY ESTABLISHED 2 TO ADVISE, COUNSEL AND CONFER WITH THE CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON 3 MATTERS OF POLICY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT 4 OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. 5 THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL SPECIFICALLY EXAMINE THE FREQUENCY OF USE 6 OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, THE QUALIFICATIONS OF EXAMINERS, 7 THE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST INVOLVING EXAMINERS AND INDEPEND- 8 ENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION ORGANIZATIONS, THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH RECOM- 9 MENDATIONS RESULTING FROM INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS ARE INVALI- 10 DATED OR AMENDED AND THE ADEQUACY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR 11 EXAMINERS TO ENSURE THAT USE OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS IS NOT 12 ADVERSELY IMPACTING THE TIMELINESS OR QUALITY OF CARE INJURED WORKERS 13 RECEIVE. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW EXISTING AND PROPOSED STATE 14 LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND 15 RECOMMEND TO THE CHAIR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE 16 ASSEMBLY AND SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES ON LABOR AND INSURANCE, NECES- 17 SARY CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO LAWS, REGULATIONS AND BOARD PROGRAMS TO 18 IMPROVE MEDICAL CARE FOR INJURED WORKERS, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 19 BOARD'S REGULATION OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, EXAMINERS AND 20 INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION ORGANIZATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIV- 21 ITIES. THE COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW AND REVOKE AUTHORIZATIONS OF INDIVID- 22 UAL EXAMINERS IF SUCH EXAMINERS EXHIBIT BIAS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR 23 OTHERWISE FAIL TO UPHOLD THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS CHAPTER. 24 (C) THE CHAIR SHALL ASSIGN STAFF TO ASSIST THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS 25 NECESSARY AND SHALL PROVIDE NECESSARY INFORMATION AND SPACE FOR MEETINGS 26 OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL KEEP A RECORD OF 27 ITS MEETINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 28 (D) THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT THE CALL OF THE CHAIR OR ANY 29 MEMBER AND AT SUCH OTHER TIMES AS IT MAY DEEM NECESSARY AND AT SUCH 30 PLACES AS MAY BE CONVENIENT. IN ANY EVENT, MEETINGS SHALL BE HELD AT 31 LEAST ONCE PER STATE FISCAL QUARTER. AN INITIAL MEETING SHALL BE HELD 32 WITHIN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. 33 2. ALL EXAMINERS AND ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN INDE- 34 PENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION ORGANIZATIONS MUST FILE STATEMENTS OF FINAN- 35 CIAL DISCLOSURE WITH THE BOARD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDI- 36 VISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION. 37 3. THE ANNUAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE SHALL CONTAIN THE 38 FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND SHALL BE IN THE FORM SET FORTH BELOW: 39 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE - (FOR CALENDAR YEAR) 40 1. NAME 41 2. (A) CHECK ONE 42 ( ) EXAMINER 43 ( ) OWNER OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION ORGANIZATION 44 NAME AND ADDRESS OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION 45 ORGANIZATION 46 ________________________________________________________________________ 47 ________________________________________________________________________ 48 (B) ADDRESS OF PRESENT OFFICE 49 (C) OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER 50 3. (A) MARITAL STATUS 51 IF MARRIED, PLEASE GIVE SPOUSE'S FULL NAME INCLUDING MAIDEN NAME WHERE 52 APPLICABLE. 53 (B) LIST THE NAMES OF ALL UNEMANCIPATED CHILDREN. 54 ________________________________________________________________________ 55 ________________________________________________________________________ 56 ________________________________________________________________________ A. 8124 4 1 ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS COMPLETELY, WITH RESPECT TO 2 CALENDAR YEAR , UNLESS ANOTHER PERIOD OR DATE IS OTHERWISE SPECI- 3 FIED. IF ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED, ATTACH ADDITIONAL PAGES. 4 WHENEVER A "VALUE" OR "AMOUNT" IS REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED HEREIN, SUCH 5 VALUE OR AMOUNT SHALL BE REPORTED AS BEING WITHIN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING 6 CATEGORIES IN TABLE I OR TABLE II OF THIS SUBDIVISION AS CALLED FOR IN 7 THE QUESTION: A REPORTING INDIVIDUAL SHALL INDICATE THE CATEGORY BY 8 LETTER ONLY. WHENEVER "INCOME" IS REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED HEREIN, THE 9 TERM "INCOME" SHALL MEAN THE AGGREGATE NET INCOME BEFORE TAXES FROM THE 10 SOURCE IDENTIFIED. THE TERM "CALENDAR YEAR" SHALL MEAN THE YEAR ENDING 11 THE DECEMBER 31ST PRECEDING THE DATE OF FILING OF THE ANNUAL STATEMENT. 12 4. (A) LIST ANY OFFICE, TRUSTEESHIP, DIRECTORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, OR POSI- 13 TION OF ANY NATURE, WHETHER COMPENSATED OR NOT, HELD BY THE REPORTING 14 INDIVIDUAL WITH ANY FIRM, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP, OR 15 OTHER ORGANIZATION. INCLUDE COMPENSATED HONORARY POSITIONS; DO NOT LIST 16 MEMBERSHIP OR UNCOMPENSATED HONORARY POSITIONS. 17 POSITION ORGANIZATION 18 ________________________________________________________________________ 19 ________________________________________________________________________ 20 (B) LIST ANY OFFICE, TRUSTEESHIP, DIRECTORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, OR POSITION 21 OF ANY NATURE, WHETHER COMPENSATED OR NOT, HELD BY THE SPOUSE OR UNEMAN- 22 CIPATED CHILD OF THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL, WITH ANY FIRM, CORPORATION, 23 ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP, OR OTHER ORGANIZATION. INCLUDE COMPENSATED 24 HONORARY POSITIONS; DO NOT LIST MEMBERSHIP OR UNCOMPENSATED HONORARY 25 POSITIONS. 26 POSITION ORGANIZATION 27 ________________________________________________________________________ 28 ________________________________________________________________________ 29 ________________________________________________________________________ 30 ________________________________________________________________________ 31 5. LIST THE NAME, ADDRESS AND DESCRIPTION OF ANY OCCUPATION, EMPLOYMENT 32 (OTHER THAN THE EMPLOYMENT LISTED UNDER ITEM 2 ABOVE), TRADE, BUSINESS 33 OR PROFESSION ENGAGED IN BY THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL. 34 NAME & ADDRESS OF ORGANIZATION POSITION DESCRIPTION 35 ________________________________________________________________________ 36 ________________________________________________________________________ 37 ________________________________________________________________________ 38 ________________________________________________________________________ 39 6. LIST EACH SOURCE OF GIFTS IN EXCESS OF $500, RECEIVED DURING THE 40 REPORTING PERIOD FOR WHICH THIS STATEMENT IS FILED BY THE REPORTING 41 INDIVIDUAL OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE OR UNEMANCIPATED CHILD FROM THE 42 SAME DONOR, EXCLUDING GIFTS FROM A RELATIVE. INCLUDE THE NAME AND 43 ADDRESS OF THE DONOR. THE TERM "GIFTS" DOES NOT INCLUDE REIMBURSEMENTS, 44 WHICH TERM IS DEFINED IN ITEM 7. INDICATE THE VALUE AND NATURE OF EACH 45 SUCH GIFT. 46 CATEGORY SELF, SPOUSE OR NAME OF NATURE OF VALUE OF 47 CHILD DONOR GIFT GIFT 48 ________________________________________________________________________ 49 ________________________________________________________________________ 50 ________________________________________________________________________ 51 ________________________________________________________________________ 52 7. IDENTIFY AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE SOURCE OF ANY REIMBURSEMENTS FOR 53 EXPENDITURES, IN EXCESS OF $250 FROM EACH SUCH SOURCE. FOR PURPOSES OF 54 THIS ITEM, THE TERM "REIMBURSEMENTS" SHALL MEAN ANY TRAVEL-RELATED 55 EXPENSES PROVIDED BY SOURCES AND FOR ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE REPORTING 56 INDIVIDUAL'S OFFICIAL DUTIES SUCH AS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, CONFERENCES, A. 8124 5 1 OR FACT FINDING EVENTS. THE TERM "REIMBURSEMENTS" DOES NOT INCLUDE GIFTS 2 REPORTED UNDER ITEM 6. 3 SOURCE DESCRIPTION 4 ________________________________________________________________________ 5 ________________________________________________________________________ 6 8. LIST THE IDENTITY AND VALUE, IF REASONABLY ASCERTAINABLE, OF EACH 7 INTEREST IN A TRUST, ESTATE OR OTHER BENEFICIAL INTEREST, INCLUDING 8 RETIREMENT PLANS, AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS (E.G. 401, 403(B), 9 457, ETC.) ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, IN 10 WHICH THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL HELD A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN EXCESS OF 11 $1,000 AT ANY TIME DURING THE PRECEDING YEAR. DO NOT REPORT INTERESTS IN 12 A TRUST, ESTATE OR OTHER BENEFICIAL INTEREST ESTABLISHED BY OR FOR, OR 13 THE ESTATE OF, A RELATIVE. 14 IDENTITY CATEGORY OF VALUE* (IN TABLE II) 15 ________________________________________________________________________ 16 ________________________________________________________________________ 17 * THE VALUE OF SUCH INTEREST SHALL BE REPORTED ONLY IF REASONABLY 18 ASCERTAINABLE. 19 9. LIST BELOW THE NATURE AND AMOUNT OF ANY INCOME IN EXCESS OF $500 FROM 20 EACH SOURCE FOR THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL AND SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE 21 FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR LAST OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE DATE OF FILING. EACH 22 SUCH SOURCE MUST BE DESCRIBED WITH PARTICULARITY. INCOME INCLUDES, BUT 23 IS NOT LIMITED TO, ALL INCOME (OTHER THAN THAT RECEIVED FROM THE EMPLOY- 24 MENT LISTED UNDER ITEM 2 ABOVE) FROM COMPENSATED EMPLOYMENT WHETHER 25 PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, DIRECTORSHIPS AND OTHER FIDUCIARY POSITIONS, CONTRAC- 26 TUAL ARRANGEMENTS, TEACHING INCOME, PARTNERSHIPS, HONORARIUMS, LECTURE 27 FEES, CONSULTANT FEES, BANK AND BOND INTEREST, DIVIDENDS, INCOME DERIVED 28 FROM A TRUST, REAL ESTATE RENTS, AND RECOGNIZED GAINS FROM THE SALE OR 29 EXCHANGE OF REAL OR OTHER PROPERTY. INCOME FROM A BUSINESS OR PROFESSION 30 AND REAL ESTATE RENTS SHALL BE REPORTED WITH THE SOURCE IDENTIFIED BY 31 THE BUILDING ADDRESS IN THE CASE OF REAL ESTATE RENTS AND OTHERWISE BY 32 THE NAME OF THE ENTITY AND NOT BY THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS, 33 CLIENTS OR TENANTS, WITH THE AGGREGATE NET INCOME BEFORE TAXES FOR EACH 34 BUILDING ADDRESS OR ENTITY. THE RECEIPT OF MAINTENANCE RECEIVED IN 35 CONNECTION WITH A MATRIMONIAL ACTION, ALIMONY AND CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS 36 SHALL NOT BE LISTED. 37 SELF/ CATEGORY SPOUSE 38 SOURCE NATURE OF INCOME OF AMOUNT (IN TABLE I) 39 ________________________________________________________________________ 40 ________________________________________________________________________ 41 ________________________________________________________________________ 42 ________________________________________________________________________ 43 10. LIST THE SOURCES OF ANY DEFERRED INCOME (NOT RETIREMENT INCOME) IN 44 EXCESS OF $500 FROM EACH SOURCE TO BE PAID TO THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL 45 FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR WHICH THIS DISCLOSURE 46 STATEMENT IS FILED, OTHER THAN DEFERRED COMPENSATION REPORTED IN ITEM 8 47 HEREINABOVE. DEFERRED INCOME DERIVED FROM THE PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION 48 SHALL BE LISTED IN THE AGGREGATE AND SHALL IDENTIFY AS THE SOURCE, THE 49 NAME OF THE FIRM, CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP OR ASSOCIATION THROUGH WHICH 50 THE INCOME WAS DERIVED, BUT SHALL NOT IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS. 51 SELF/ CATEGORY SPOUSE 52 SOURCE NATURE OF INCOME OF AMOUNT (IN TABLE I) 53 ________________________________________________________________________ 54 ________________________________________________________________________ A. 8124 6 1 ________________________________________________________________________ 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 3 11. LIST EACH ASSIGNMENT OF INCOME IN EXCESS OF $500, AND EACH TRANSFER 4 OTHER THAN TO A RELATIVE DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD FOR WHICH THIS 5 STATEMENT IS FILED FOR LESS THAN FAIR CONSIDERATION OF AN INTEREST IN A 6 TRUST, ESTATE OR OTHER BENEFICIAL INTEREST, SECURITIES OR REAL PROPERTY, 7 BY THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL, IN EXCESS OF $500, WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE 8 REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED HEREIN AND IS NOT OR HAS NOT BEEN SO REPORTED. 9 CATEGORY 10 SOURCE ITEM ASSIGNED OF VALUE (IN TABLE I) 11 ________________________________________________________________________ 12 ________________________________________________________________________ 13 ________________________________________________________________________ 14 ________________________________________________________________________ 15 12. LIST BELOW THE TYPE AND MARKET VALUE OF SECURITIES HELD BY THE 16 REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE FROM EACH ISSUING ENTI- 17 TY IN EXCESS OF $1,000 AT THE CLOSE OF THE TAXABLE YEAR LAST OCCURRING 18 PRIOR TO THE DATE OF FILING, INCLUDING THE NAME OF THE ISSUING ENTITY 19 EXCLUSIVE OF SECURITIES HELD BY THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL ISSUED BY A 20 PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION. WHENEVER AN INTEREST IN SECURITIES EXISTS 21 THROUGH A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A TRUST, THE SECURITIES HELD IN SUCH 22 TRUST SHALL BE LISTED ONLY IF THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL HAS KNOWLEDGE 23 THEREOF EXCEPT WHERE THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR THE REPORTING INDIVID- 24 UAL'S SPOUSE HAS TRANSFERRED ASSETS TO SUCH TRUST FOR HIS OR HER BENEFIT 25 IN WHICH EVENT SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE LISTED UNLESS THEY ARE NOT 26 ASCERTAINABLE BY THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THE TRUSTEE IS UNDER 27 AN OBLIGATION NOT TO DISCLOSE THE CONTENTS OF THE TRUST TO THE REPORTING 28 INDIVIDUAL. SECURITIES OF WHICH THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR THE REPORT- 29 ING INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE IS THE OWNER OF RECORD BUT IN WHICH SUCH INDI- 30 VIDUAL OR THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE HAS NO BENEFICIAL INTEREST 31 SHALL NOT BE LISTED. INDICATE PERCENTAGE OF OWNERSHIP ONLY IF THE 32 REPORTING PERSON OR THE REPORTING PERSON'S SPOUSE HOLDS MORE THAN FIVE 33 PERCENT (5%) OF THE STOCK OF A CORPORATION IN WHICH THE STOCK IS PUBLIC- 34 LY TRADED OR MORE THAN TEN PERCENT (10%) OF THE STOCK OF A CORPORATION 35 IN WHICH THE STOCK IS NOT PUBLICLY TRADED. ALSO LIST SECURITIES OWNED 36 FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES BY A CORPORATION MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT (50%) 37 OF THE STOCK OF WHICH IS OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL 38 OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM, THE TERM 39 "SECURITIES" SHALL MEAN MUTUAL FUNDS, BONDS, MORTGAGES, NOTES, OBLI- 40 GATIONS, WARRANTS AND STOCKS OF ANY CLASS, INVESTMENT INTERESTS IN 41 LIMITED OR GENERAL PARTNERSHIPS AND CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSITS (CDS) AND 42 SUCH OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS AND CERTIFICATES OF INTEREST AS ARE 43 USUALLY REFERRED TO AS SECURITIES. THE MARKET VALUE FOR SUCH SECURITIES 44 SHALL BE REPORTED ONLY IF REASONABLY ASCERTAINABLE AND SHALL NOT BE 45 REPORTED IF THE SECURITY IS AN INTEREST IN A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP THAT 46 WAS LISTED ABOVE OR IF THE SECURITY IS CORPORATE STOCK, NOT PUBLICLY 47 TRADED, IN A TRADE OR BUSINESS OF A REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR A REPORTING 48 INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE. 49 SELF/ ISSUING TYPE OF PERCENTAGE OF CATEGORY OF VALUE 50 SPOUSE ENTITY SECURITY OWNERSHIP (IN TABLE II) 51 ________________________________________________________________________ 52 ________________________________________________________________________ 53 ________________________________________________________________________ 54 13. LIST BELOW THE LOCATION, SIZE, GENERAL NATURE, ACQUISITION DATE, 55 MARKET VALUE AND PERCENTAGE OF OWNERSHIP OF ANY REAL PROPERTY IN WHICH 56 ANY VESTED OR CONTINGENT INTEREST IN EXCESS OF $1,000 IS HELD BY THE A. 8124 7 1 REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE. ALSO LIST 2 REAL PROPERTY OWNED FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES BY A CORPORATION MORE THAN 3 FIFTY PERCENT (50%) OF THE STOCK OF WHICH IS OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE 4 REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE. DO NOT LIST ANY REAL 5 PROPERTY WHICH IS THE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY PERSONAL RESIDENCE OF THE 6 REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE, EXCEPT WHERE 7 THERE IS A CO-OWNER WHO IS OTHER THAN A RELATIVE. 8 SELF/ LOCATION PERCENTAGE GENERAL ACQUISITION CATEGORY OF MARKET 9 SPOUSE SIZE OF OWNERSHIP NATURE DATE VALUE 10 (IN TABLE II) 11 ________________________________________________________________________ 12 ________________________________________________________________________ 13 ________________________________________________________________________ 14 ________________________________________________________________________ 15 14. LIST BELOW ALL NOTES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OTHER THAN FROM GOODS 16 OR SERVICES SOLD, HELD BY THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL AT THE CLOSE OF THE 17 TAXABLE YEAR LAST OCCURRING PRIOR TO THE DATE OF FILING AND OTHER DEBTS 18 OWED TO SUCH INDIVIDUAL AT THE CLOSE OF THE TAXABLE YEAR LAST OCCURRING 19 PRIOR TO THE DATE OF FILING, IN EXCESS OF $500, INCLUDING THE NAME OF 20 THE DEBTOR, TYPE OF OBLIGATION, DATE DUE AND THE NATURE OF THE COLLAT- 21 ERAL SECURING PAYMENT OF EACH, IF ANY, EXCLUDING SECURITIES REPORTED 22 ABOVE. DEBTS, NOTES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE OWED TO THE INDIVIDUAL BY A 23 RELATIVE SHALL NOT BE REPORTED. 24 NAME OF TYPE OF DATE NATURE OF CATEGORY OF 25 DEBTOR OBLIGATION DUE COLLATERAL AMOUNT (IN TABLE II) 26 ________________________________________________________________________ 27 ________________________________________________________________________ 28 ________________________________________________________________________ 29 ________________________________________________________________________ 30 15. LIST BELOW ALL LIABILITIES OF THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL AND SUCH 31 INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE, IN EXCESS OF $2,500 AS OF THE DATE OF FILING OF 32 THIS STATEMENT, OTHER THAN LIABILITIES TO A RELATIVE. DO NOT LIST 33 LIABILITIES INCURRED BY, OR GUARANTEES MADE BY, THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL 34 OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE OR BY ANY PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP OR 35 CORPORATION IN WHICH THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S 36 SPOUSE HAS AN INTEREST, WHEN INCURRED OR MADE IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF 37 THE TRADE, BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF THE REPORTING INDIVIDUAL 38 OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S SPOUSE. INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE CREDITOR AND ANY 39 COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO SECURE PAYMENT OF ANY SUCH 40 LIABILITY. A REPORTING INDIVIDUAL SHALL NOT LIST ANY OBLIGATION TO PAY 41 MAINTENANCE IN CONNECTION WITH A MATRIMONIAL ACTION, ALIMONY OR CHILD 42 SUPPORT PAYMENTS. ANY LOAN ISSUED IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS BY 43 A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO FINANCE EDUCATIONAL COSTS, THE COST OF HOME 44 PURCHASE OR IMPROVEMENTS FOR A PRIMARY OR SECONDARY RESIDENCE, OR 45 PURCHASE OF A PERSONALLY OWNED MOTOR VEHICLE, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE OR 46 APPLIANCES SHALL BE EXCLUDED. IF ANY SUCH REPORTABLE LIABILITY HAS BEEN 47 GUARANTEED BY ANY THIRD PERSON, LIST THE LIABILITY AND NAME THE GUARAN- 48 TOR. 49 CATEGORY 50 NAME OF CREDITOR TYPE COLLATERAL, CATEGORY OF 51 OR GUARANTOR OF LIABILITY OF IF ANY AMOUNT (IN TABLE II) 52 ________________________________________________________________________ 53 ________________________________________________________________________ 54 ________________________________________________________________________ 55 ________________________________________________________________________ 56 THE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW RELATING TO THE REPORTING OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS A. 8124 8 1 ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NO ADVERSE INFERENCE OF UNETHICAL OR 2 ILLEGAL CONDUCT OR BEHAVIOR WILL BE DRAWN MERELY FROM COMPLIANCE WITH 3 THESE REQUIREMENTS. 4 (SIGNATURE OF REPORTING INDIVIDUAL) DATE (MONTH/DAY/YEAR) 5 TABLE I 6 CATEGORY A NONE 7 CATEGORY B $ 1 TO UNDER $ 1,000 8 CATEGORY C $ 1,000 TO UNDER $ 5,000 9 CATEGORY D $ 5,000 TO UNDER $ 20,000 10 CATEGORY E $ 20,000 TO UNDER $ 50,000 11 CATEGORY F $ 50,000 TO UNDER $ 75,000 12 CATEGORY G $ 75,000 TO UNDER $ 100,000 13 CATEGORY H $ 100,000 TO UNDER $ 150,000 14 CATEGORY I $ 150,000 TO UNDER $ 250,000 15 CATEGORY J $ 250,000 TO UNDER $ 350,000 16 CATEGORY K $ 350,000 TO UNDER $ 450,000 17 CATEGORY L $ 450,000 TO UNDER $ 550,000 18 CATEGORY M $ 550,000 TO UNDER $ 650,000 19 CATEGORY N $ 650,000 TO UNDER $ 750,000 20 CATEGORY O $ 750,000 TO UNDER $ 850,000 21 CATEGORY P $ 850,000 TO UNDER $ 950,000 22 CATEGORY Q $ 950,000 TO UNDER $ 1,050,000 23 CATEGORY R $ 1,050,000 TO UNDER $ 1,150,000 24 CATEGORY S $1,150,000 TO UNDER $1,250,000 25 CATEGORY T $1,250,000 TO UNDER $1,350,000 26 CATEGORY U $1,350,000 TO UNDER $1,450,000 27 CATEGORY V $1,450,000 TO UNDER $1,550,000 28 CATEGORY W $1,550,000 TO UNDER $1,650,000 29 CATEGORY X $1,650,000 TO UNDER $1,750,000 30 CATEGORY Y $1,750,000 TO UNDER $1,850,000 31 CATEGORY Z $1,850,000 TO UNDER $1,950,000 32 CATEGORY AA $1,950,000 TO UNDER $2,050,000 33 CATEGORY BB $2,050,000 TO UNDER $2,150,000 34 CATEGORY CC $2,150,000 TO UNDER $2,250,000 35 CATEGORY DD $2,250,000 TO UNDER $2,350,000 36 CATEGORY EE $2,350,000 TO UNDER $2,450,000 37 CATEGORY FF $2,450,000 TO UNDER $2,550,000 38 CATEGORY GG $2,550,000 TO UNDER $2,650,000 39 CATEGORY HH $2,650,000 TO UNDER $2,750,000 40 CATEGORY II $2,750,000 TO UNDER $2,850,000 41 CATEGORY JJ $2,850,000 TO UNDER $2,950,000 42 CATEGORY KK $2,950,000 TO UNDER $3,050,000 43 CATEGORY LL $3,050,000 TO UNDER $3,150,000 44 CATEGORY MM $3,150,000 TO UNDER $3,250,000 45 CATEGORY NN $3,250,000 TO UNDER $3,350,000 46 CATEGORY OO $3,350,000 TO UNDER $3,450,000 47 CATEGORY PP $3,450,000 TO UNDER $3,550,000 48 CATEGORY QQ $3,550,000 TO UNDER $3,650,000 49 CATEGORY RR $3,650,000 TO UNDER $3,750,000 50 CATEGORY SS $3,750,000 TO UNDER $3,850,000 51 CATEGORY TT $3,850,000 TO UNDER $3,950,000 52 CATEGORY UU $3,950,000 TO UNDER $4,050,000 53 CATEGORY VV $4,050,000 TO UNDER $4,150,000 54 CATEGORY WW $4,150,000 TO UNDER $4,250,000 55 CATEGORY XX $4,250,000 TO UNDER $4,350,000 56 CATEGORY YY $4,350,000 TO UNDER $4,450,000 A. 8124 9 1 CATEGORY ZZ $4,450,000 TO UNDER $4,550,000 2 CATEGORY AAA $4,550,000 TO UNDER $4,650,000 3 CATEGORY BBB $4,650,000 TO UNDER $4,750,000 4 CATEGORY CCC $4,750,000 TO UNDER $4,850,000 5 CATEGORY DDD $4,850,000 TO UNDER $4,950,000 6 CATEGORY EEE $4,950,000 TO UNDER $5,050,000 7 CATEGORY FFF $5,050,000 TO UNDER $5,150,000 8 CATEGORY GGG $5,150,000 TO UNDER $5,250,000 9 CATEGORY HHH $5,250,000 TO UNDER $5,350,000 10 CATEGORY III $5,350,000 TO UNDER $5,450,000 11 CATEGORY JJJ $5,450,000 TO UNDER $5,550,000 12 CATEGORY KKK $5,550,000 TO UNDER $5,650,000 13 CATEGORY LLL $5,650,000 TO UNDER $5,750,000 14 CATEGORY MMM $5,750,000 TO UNDER $5,850,000 15 CATEGORY NNN $5,850,000 TO UNDER $5,950,000 16 CATEGORY OOO $5,950,000 TO UNDER $6,050,000 17 CATEGORY PPP $6,050,000 TO UNDER $6,150,000 18 CATEGORY QQQ $6,150,000 TO UNDER $6,250,000 19 CATEGORY RRR $6,250,000 TO UNDER $6,350,000 20 CATEGORY SSS $6,350,000 TO UNDER $6,450,000 21 CATEGORY TTT $6,450,000 TO UNDER $6,550,000 22 CATEGORY UUU $6,550,000 TO UNDER $6,650,000 23 CATEGORY VVV $6,650,000 TO UNDER $6,750,000 24 CATEGORY WWW $6,750,000 TO UNDER $6,850,000 25 CATEGORY XXX $6,850,000 TO UNDER $6,950,000 26 CATEGORY YYY $6,950,000 TO UNDER $7,050,000 27 CATEGORY ZZZ $7,050,000 TO UNDER $7,150,000 28 CATEGORY AAAA $7,150,000 TO UNDER $7,250,000 29 CATEGORY BBBB $7,250,000 TO UNDER $7,350,000 30 CATEGORY CCCC $7,350,000 TO UNDER $7,450,000 31 CATEGORY DDDD $7,450,000 TO UNDER $7,550,000 32 CATEGORY EEEE $7,550,000 TO UNDER $7,650,000 33 CATEGORY FFFF $7,650,000 TO UNDER $7,750,000 34 CATEGORY GGGG $7,750,000 TO UNDER $7,850,000 35 CATEGORY HHHH $7,850,000 TO UNDER $7,950,000 36 CATEGORY IIII $7,950,000 TO UNDER $8,050,000 37 CATEGORY JJJJ $8,050,000 TO UNDER $8,150,000 38 CATEGORY KKKK $8,150,000 TO UNDER $8,250,000 39 CATEGORY LLLL $8,250,000 TO UNDER $8,350,000 40 CATEGORY MMMM $8,350,000 TO UNDER $8,450,000 41 CATEGORY NNNN $8,450,000 TO UNDER $8,550,000 42 CATEGORY OOOO $8,550,000 TO UNDER $8,650,000 43 CATEGORY PPPP $8,650,000 TO UNDER $8,750,000 44 CATEGORY QQQQ $8,750,000 TO UNDER $8,850,000 45 CATEGORY RRRR $8,850,000 TO UNDER $8,950,000 46 CATEGORY SSSS $8,950,000 TO UNDER $9,050,000 47 CATEGORY TTTT $9,050,000 TO UNDER $9,150,000 48 CATEGORY UUUU $9,150,000 TO UNDER $9,250,000 49 CATEGORY VVVV $9,250,000 TO UNDER $9,350,000 50 CATEGORY WWWW $9,350,000 TO UNDER $9,450,000 51 CATEGORY XXXX $9,450,000 TO UNDER $9,550,000 52 CATEGORY YYYY $9,550,000 TO UNDER $9,650,000 53 CATEGORY ZZZZ $9,650,000 TO UNDER $9,750,000 54 CATEGORY AAAAA $9,750,000 TO UNDER $9,850,000 55 CATEGORY BBBBB $9,850,000 TO UNDER $9,950,000 56 CATEGORY CCCCC $9,950,000 TO UNDER $10,000,000 A. 8124 10 1 CATEGORY DDDDD $10,000,000 OR OVER 2 TABLE II 3 CATEGORY A NONE 4 CATEGORY B $1 TO UNDER $1,000 5 CATEGORY C $1,000 TO UNDER $5,000 6 CATEGORY D $5,000 TO UNDER $20,000 7 CATEGORY E $20,000 TO UNDER $50,000 8 CATEGORY F $50,000 TO UNDER $75,000 9 CATEGORY G $75,000 TO UNDER $100,000 10 CATEGORY H $100,000 TO UNDER $150,000 11 CATEGORY I $150,000 TO UNDER $250,000 12 CATEGORY J $250,000 TO UNDER $500,000 13 CATEGORY K $500,000 TO UNDER $750,000 14 CATEGORY L $750,000 TO UNDER $1,000,000 15 CATEGORY M $1,000,000 TO UNDER $1,250,000 16 CATEGORY N $1,250,000 TO UNDER $1,500,000 17 CATEGORY O $1,500,000 TO UNDER $1,750,000 18 CATEGORY P $1,750,000 TO UNDER $2,000,000 19 CATEGORY Q $2,000,000 TO UNDER $2,250,000 20 CATEGORY R $2,250,000 TO UNDER $2,500,000 21 CATEGORY S $2,500,000 TO UNDER $2,750,000 22 CATEGORY T $2,750,000 TO UNDER $3,000,000 23 CATEGORY U $3,000,000 TO UNDER $3,250,000 24 CATEGORY V $3,250,000 TO UNDER $3,500,000 25 CATEGORY W $3,500,000 TO UNDER $3,750,000 26 CATEGORY X $3,750,000 TO UNDER $4,000,000 27 CATEGORY Y $4,000,000 TO UNDER $4,250,000 28 CATEGORY Z $4,250,000 TO UNDER $4,500,000 29 CATEGORY AA $4,500,000 TO UNDER $4,750,000 30 CATEGORY BB $4,750,000 TO UNDER $5,000,000 31 CATEGORY CC $5,000,000 TO UNDER $5,250,000 32 CATEGORY DD $5,250,000 TO UNDER $5,500,000 33 CATEGORY EE $5,500,000 TO UNDER $5,750,000 34 CATEGORY FF $5,750,000 TO UNDER $6,000,000 35 CATEGORY GG $6,000,000 TO UNDER $6,250,000 36 CATEGORY HH $6,250,000 TO UNDER $6,500,000 37 CATEGORY II $6,500,000 TO UNDER $6,750,000 38 CATEGORY JJ $6,750,000 TO UNDER $7,000,000 39 CATEGORY KK $7,000,000 TO UNDER $7,250,000 40 CATEGORY LL $7,250,000 TO UNDER $7,500,000 41 CATEGORY MM $7,500,000 TO UNDER $7,750,000 42 CATEGORY NN $7,750,000 TO UNDER $8,000,000 43 CATEGORY OO $8,000,000 TO UNDER $8,250,000 44 CATEGORY PP $8,250,000 TO UNDER $8,500,000 45 CATEGORY QQ $8,500,000 TO UNDER $8,750,000 46 CATEGORY RR $8,750,000 TO UNDER $9,000,000 47 CATEGORY SS $9,000,000 TO UNDER $9,250,000 48 CATEGORY TT $9,250,000 TO UNDER $9,500,000 49 CATEGORY UU $9,500,000 OR OVER 50 4. A REPORTING INDIVIDUAL WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY FAILS TO FILE AN 51 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE OR WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY 52 WITH INTENT TO DECEIVE MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT OR GIVES INFORMATION 53 WHICH SUCH INDIVIDUAL KNOWS TO BE FALSE ON SUCH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL 54 DISCLOSURE FILED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL 55 PENALTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. ASSESSMENT 56 OF A CIVIL PENALTY HEREUNDER SHALL BE MADE BY THE BOARD. A. 8124 11 1 THE BOARD MAY IN LIEU OF OR IN ADDITION TO A CIVIL PENALTY, REFER A 2 VIOLATION TO THE APPROPRIATE PROSECUTOR AND UPON SUCH CONVICTION, BUT 3 ONLY AFTER SUCH REFERRAL, SUCH VIOLATION SHALL BE PUNISHABLE AS A CLASS 4 A MISDEMEANOR. A CIVIL PENALTY FOR FALSE FILING MAY NOT BE IMPOSED HERE- 5 UNDER IN THE EVENT A CATEGORY OF "VALUE" OR "AMOUNT" REPORTED HEREUNDER 6 IS INCORRECT UNLESS SUCH REPORTED INFORMATION IS FALSELY UNDERSTATED. 7 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NO OTHER 8 PENALTY, CIVIL OR CRIMINAL MAY BE IMPOSED FOR A FAILURE TO FILE, OR FOR 9 A FALSE FILING, OF SUCH STATEMENT, EXCEPT THAT THE BOARD MAY IMPOSE 10 DISCIPLINARY ACTION AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW. THE BOARD SHALL BE 11 DEEMED TO BE AN AGENCY WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE THREE OF THE STATE 12 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT AND SHALL ADOPT RULES GOVERNING THE CONDUCT 13 OF ADJUDICATORY PROCEEDINGS AND APPEALS RELATING TO THE ASSESSMENT OF 14 THE CIVIL PENALTIES HEREIN AUTHORIZED. SUCH RULES, WHICH SHALL BE 15 SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCE- 16 DURE ACT, SHALL PROVIDE FOR DUE PROCESS PROCEDURAL MECHANISMS SUBSTAN- 17 TIALLY SIMILAR TO THOSE SET FORTH IN SUCH ARTICLE THREE BUT SUCH MECH- 18 ANISMS NEED NOT BE IDENTICAL IN TERMS OR SCOPE. ASSESSMENT OF A CIVIL 19 PENALTY SHALL BE FINAL UNLESS MODIFIED, SUSPENDED OR VACATED WITHIN 20 THIRTY DAYS OF IMPOSITION AND UPON BECOMING FINAL SHALL BE SUBJECT TO 21 REVIEW AT THE INSTANCE OF THE AFFECTED REPORTING INDIVIDUAL IN A 22 PROCEEDING COMMENCED AGAINST THE BOARD, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 23 SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES. 24 5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW OR ANY PROFESSIONAL 25 DISCIPLINARY RULE TO THE CONTRARY, THE DISCLOSURE OF THE IDENTITY OF ANY 26 CLIENT OR CUSTOMER ON A REPORTING INDIVIDUAL'S ANNUAL STATEMENT OF 27 FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT OR A 28 GROUND FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OF ANY KIND, OR FORM THE BASIS FOR ANY 29 CIVIL OR CRIMINAL CAUSE OF ACTION OR PROCEEDING. 30 6. STARTING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN, IN ADDITION TO 31 REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SECTION THIRTEEN-B OF THIS ARTICLE, EXAMINERS 32 MUST: (A) TREAT FIFTY PATIENTS PER YEAR; (B) TREAT TEN INJURED WORKERS 33 PER YEAR; (C) PERFORM TWENTY-FOUR CREDIT HOURS OF CONTINUING EXAMINER 34 EDUCATION PER YEAR, SIX HOURS OF WHICH MUST FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL 35 ETHICS; AND (D) REGISTER WITH THE BOARD ANNUALLY AND SUBMIT AN ANNUAL 36 REGISTRATION FEE OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. 37 7. (A) PURSUANT TO THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE LAW, ON OR 38 BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN, THE CHAIR SHALL PROMULGATE 39 REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING A STATEWIDE CONTINUING EXAMINER EDUCATION 40 PROGRAM. 41 (B) ALL CONTINUING EXAMINER EDUCATION COURSES MUST BE ORGANIZED, 42 TAUGHT AND ADMINISTERED BY BOARD STAFF WITH EXPERTISE IN THE SUBJECT 43 MATTER OF THE COURSE. 44 (C) COURSES MUST BE PERFORMED AND ATTENDED IN-PERSON. 45 (D) COURSES MUST ADDRESS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: PROFES- 46 SIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN TREAT- 47 MENT OF INJURED WORKERS. 48 8. (A) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD 49 AN OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION INSPECTOR GENERAL. 50 (B) THE OFFICE SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR 51 GENERAL. ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN, THE INSPECTOR 52 GENERAL SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT 53 OF THE SENATE. THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION INSPECTOR GENERAL 54 SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF TWELVE YEARS. THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINA- 55 TION INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL RECEIVE AN ANNUAL SALARY OF ONE HUNDRED A. 8124 12 1 FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND MAY NOT HOLD ANY OTHER OFFICE OR POSITION OR 2 ENGAGE IN OTHER EMPLOYMENT. 3 (C) FEES, ASSESSMENTS, FINES AND PENALTIES PAID PURSUANT TO SUBDIVI- 4 SIONS FOUR, SIX AND NINE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE COLLECTED BY THE BOARD 5 AND MAINTAINED IN A DEDICATED FUND TO BE USED AS THE OPERATING REVENUE 6 OF THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION INSPECTOR GENERAL. 7 THE CHAIR SHALL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUE AS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE 8 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE. 9 (D) THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINER INSPECTOR GENERAL 10 SHALL: (I) ENFORCE ANNUAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIRE- 11 MENTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION; (II) COLLECT, REVIEW AND AGGREGATE 12 INFORMATION CONTAINED IN ANNUAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS; (III) 13 PERIODICALLY AUDIT EXAMINERS AND INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION ORGAN- 14 IZATIONS TO VERIFY THE VERACITY OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN ANNUAL 15 AUDITS AND TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH CONTINUING EXAMINER EDUCATION 16 REQUIREMENTS; (IV) INVESTIGATE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, MALFEASANCE AND 17 NONFEASANCE IN CONNECTION WITH INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS; AND (V) 18 REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND 19 SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY ON THE USE OF INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, 20 ON INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOMMEND REGULATORY AND STATUTORY 21 CHANGES. 22 9. FOR EACH INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION ORDERED OR REQUESTED BY A 23 CARRIER OR THE STATE FUND AND PERFORMED BY AN EXAMINER, THE CARRIER OR 24 STATE FUND SHALL PAY AN ASSESSMENT OF FIFTY DOLLARS TO THE BOARD WITHIN 25 SEVEN DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION. SUCH ASSESSMENT SHALL BE 26 MAINTAINED BY THE BOARD IN A DEDICATED FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING 27 THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION INSPECTOR GENERAL. 28 S 7. Section 13-f of the workers' compensation law is amended by 29 adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows: 30 (3) THE CHAIR SHALL IMMEDIATELY CONDUCT A STUDY TO ANALYZE THE AVAIL- 31 ABILITY AND QUALITY OF CARE FOR INJURED WORKERS BASED ON SPECIALTY, 32 PRACTICE AREA AND GEOGRAPHICAL REGION OF THE STATE. THE RESULTS OF THAT 33 STUDY SHALL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 34 THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN. WHERE CERTAIN GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS 35 OF THE STATE ARE UNDERSERVED BY AUTHORIZED PROVIDERS IN A SPECIALTY, THE 36 CHAIR SHALL DEVISE AND IMPLEMENT A COURSE OF ACTION TO ATTRACT ADDI- 37 TIONAL PROVIDERS OF THAT SPECIFIC SPECIALTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 38 SYSTEM. THIS COURSE OF ACTION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, 39 INCREASING MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR SPECIALTY SERVICES IN REGIONS 40 WHERE PARTICIPATING PROVIDERS OF SUCH SERVICES ARE SCARCE, REGARDLESS OF 41 OVERALL INCREASE OF COST TO THE SYSTEM. 42 S 8. Section 13-g of the workers' compensation law is amended by 43 adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows: 44 (1-A) WHERE AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER EXHIBITS A PATTERN OF CONTROVERTING 45 MEDICAL BILLS ON THE FORTY-FIFTH DAY FOLLOWING RENDERING, THERE SHALL BE 46 A PRESUMPTION THAT SUCH CONTROVERSION IS FRIVOLOUS AND UNFOUNDED. IF THE 47 EMPLOYER OR CARRIER FAILS TO PROVIDE CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE 48 REBUTTING THIS PRESUMPTION, THE CARRIER OR EMPLOYER MUST PAY THE BILL AS 49 IF NOTICE OF CONTROVERSION HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED. FOR THE PURPOSES OF 50 THIS SECTION, A PATTERN OF CONTROVERSION ON THE FORTY-FIFTH DAY FOLLOW- 51 ING RENDERING EXISTS WHERE WITHIN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, FIVE PERCENT OR 52 MORE OF AN EMPLOYER OR CARRIER'S MEDICAL BILL CONTROVERSIONS OCCUR ON 53 THE FORTY-FIFTH DAY FOLLOWING RENDERING. THE CHAIR SHALL MAINTAIN A 54 LIST, TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE BOARD'S WEBSITE AND TO BE UPDATED DAILY, OF 55 EMPLOYERS AND CARRIERS WHOSE CONTROVERSION PRACTICES QUALIFY THEM FOR 56 SUCH PRESUMPTION. A. 8124 13 1 S 9. Subdivision 3 of section 13-n of the workers' compensation law, 2 as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as 3 follows: 4 3. The chair, upon finding that an EXAMINER OR entity that derives 5 income from independent medical examinations has materially altered an 6 independent medical examination report, or caused such a report to be 7 materially altered, [may] SHALL revoke THE AUTHORIZATION OF SUCH EXAMIN- 8 ER OR the registration of such entity, impose a penalty [not exceeding] 9 OF AT LEAST ten thousand dollars and refer the matter to the attorney 10 general for prosecution. 11 S 10. Subdivision 5 of section 14 of the workers' compensation law, as 12 amended by chapter 730 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as 13 follows: 14 5. If it be established that the injured employee was under the age of 15 [twenty-five] THIRTY-FIVE when injured, OR WAS ACCEPTED TO OR ENROLLED 16 IN AN APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF 17 LABOR PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE OF THE LABOR LAW, and that under 18 normal conditions his OR HER wages would be expected to increase, that 19 fact [may] SHALL be considered in arriving at his OR HER average weekly 20 wages. 21 S 11. The section heading of section 14-a of the workers' compensation 22 law, as amended by chapter 142 of the laws of 1947, is amended to read 23 as follows: 24 Double compensation and death benefits when [minors] WORKERS illegally 25 employed. 26 S 12. Subdivision 1 of section 14-a of the workers' compensation law, 27 as amended by chapter 67 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as 28 follows: 29 1. Compensation, death benefits, and awards to the commissioner of 30 taxation and finance in accordance with subdivision nine of section 31 fifteen and section twenty-five-a, as provided in this article, shall be 32 double the amount otherwise payable if the injured employee at the time 33 of the accident is [a minor employed,] permitted or suffered to work in 34 violation of any provision of the labor law or in violation of [any rule 35 heretofore or hereafter adopted by the board of standards and appeals 36 pursuant to subdivision four of section one hundred thirty-three of said 37 law] MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, STATE OR FEDERAL STATUTE, RULE OR REGULATION. 38 An employer who knowingly permits or suffers a newspaper carrier to 39 work in violation of section thirty-two hundred twenty-eight of the 40 education law, shall be liable for the increased awards provided by this 41 section. 42 S 13. Subdivision 1 of section 15 of the workers' compensation law, as 43 amended by chapter 675 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as 44 follows: 45 1. Permanent total disability. In case of total disability adjudged to 46 be permanent sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of the average weekly 47 wages shall be paid to the employee during the continuance of such total 48 disability. Loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both 49 legs, or both eyes, or of any two thereof, OR APPROVAL FOR FEDERAL 50 SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS, shall, in the absence of conclusive 51 proof to the contrary, constitute permanent total disability. In all 52 other cases permanent total disability shall be determined in accordance 53 with the facts. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an 54 injured employee disabled due to the loss or total loss of use of both 55 eyes, or both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or of any 56 two thereof shall not suffer any diminution of his compensation by A. 8124 14 1 engaging in business or employment provided his OR HER earnings or 2 wages, when combined with his compensation, shall not be in excess of 3 the wage base on which the maximum weekly compensation benefit is 4 computed under the law in effect at time of such earning; further 5 provided, that if the combination exceeds such wage base, the compen- 6 sation shall be diminished to an amount which, together with his OR HER 7 earnings or wages, shall equal the wage base; and further provided that 8 the application of this subdivision shall not result in reduction of 9 compensation which an injured employee who is disabled due to the loss 10 or total loss of use of both eyes, or both hands, or both arms, or both 11 feet, or both legs or of any two thereof, would otherwise be entitled to 12 under any other provision of this section. 13 S 14. Subdivision 3 of section 15 of the workers' compensation law, 14 paragraph e as amended by chapter 317 and paragraph f as amended by 15 chapter 320 of the laws of 1924, paragraph m as amended by chapter 554 16 of the laws of 1927, paragraph o as amended by chapter 754 of the laws 17 of 1928, paragraph q as amended by chapter 661 of the laws of 1935, 18 paragraph s as amended by chapter 204 of the laws of 1988, paragraph t 19 as amended by chapter 774 of the laws of 1945, subparagraphs 1 and 2 of 20 paragraph t as amended by chapter 924 of the laws of 1990, paragraph u 21 as amended by chapter 351 of the laws of 2009, paragraph v as amended by 22 chapter 364 of the laws of 1989 and paragraph w as amended by chapter 6 23 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows: 24 3. Permanent partial disability. In case of disability partial in 25 character but permanent in quality the compensation shall be sixty-six 26 and two-thirds per centum of the average weekly wages and shall be paid 27 to the employee for the period named in this subdivision, as follows: 28 Number of 29 Member lost weeks' compensation 30 a. Arm ........................................................... [312] 31 624 32 b. Leg ........................................................... [288] 33 576 34 c. Hand .......................................................... [244] 35 488 36 d. Foot .......................................................... [205] 37 410 38 e. eye ........................................................... [160] 39 320 40 f. Thumb .......................................................... [75] 41 150 42 g. First finger ................................................... [46] 43 92 44 h. Great toe ...................................................... [38] 45 76 46 i. Second finger .................................................. [30] 47 60 48 j. Third finger ................................................... [25] 49 50 50 k. Toe other than great toe ....................................... [16] 51 32 52 l. Fourth finger .................................................. [15] 53 30 54 m. Loss of hearing. Compensation for the complete loss of the hearing 55 of one ear, for [sixty] ONE HUNDRED TWENTY weeks, for the loss of hear- 56 ing of both ears, for [one hundred and fifty] THREE HUNDRED weeks. A. 8124 15 1 n. Phalanges. Compensation for the loss of [more than] one phalange of 2 a digit shall be the same as for loss of the entire digit. [Compensation 3 for loss of the first phalange shall be one-half of the compensation for 4 loss of the entire digit.] 5 o. Amputated arm or leg. Compensation for an arm or a leg, if amputat- 6 ed at or above the wrist or ankle, shall be for the [proportionate loss 7 of the] ENTIRE arm or leg. 8 p. Binocular vision or per centum of vision. Compensation for loss of 9 binocular vision or for [eighty] FIFTY per centum or more of the vision 10 of an eye shall be the same as for loss of the eye. 11 q. Two or more digits. Compensation for loss or loss of use of two or 12 more digits, or one or more phalanges of two or more digits, of a hand 13 or foot [may be proportioned to the loss of use of the hand or foot 14 occasioned thereby but shall not exceed] SHALL EQUAL the compensation 15 for loss of a hand or foot. 16 r. Total loss of use. Compensation for permanent total loss of use of 17 a member shall be the same as for loss of the member. 18 s. Partial loss or partial loss of use. Compensation for permanent 19 partial loss or loss of use of a member may be for proportionate loss or 20 loss of use of the member. Compensation for permanent partial loss or 21 loss of use of an eye shall be awarded on the basis of uncorrected loss 22 of vision or corrected loss of vision resulting from an injury whichever 23 is the greater. 24 t. Disfigurement. 1. The board [may] SHALL award proper and equitable 25 compensation for serious [facial or head] disfigurement, not to exceed 26 [twenty] FIVE HUNDRED thousand dollars[, including a disfigurement 27 continuous in length which is partially in the facial area and also 28 extends into the neck region as described in paragraph two hereof]. 29 2. The board, if in its opinion the earning capacity of an employee 30 has been or may in the future be impaired, may award compensation for 31 any serious disfigurement [in the region above the sterno clavicular 32 articulations anterior to and including the region of the sterno cleido 33 mastoid muscles on either side], but no award under subdivisions one and 34 two OF THIS SECTION shall, in the aggregate, exceed [twenty] FIVE 35 HUNDRED thousand dollars. 36 [3. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, two or more serious 37 disfigurements, not continuous in length, resulting from the same inju- 38 ry, if partially in the facial area and partially in the neck region as 39 described in paragraph two hereof, shall be deemed to be a facial 40 disfigurement.] 41 u. Total or partial loss or loss of use of more than one member or 42 parts of members. In any case in which there shall be a loss or loss of 43 use of more than one member or parts of more than one member set forth 44 in paragraphs a through t, inclusive, of this subdivision, but not 45 amounting to permanent total disability, the board shall award compen- 46 sation for the loss or loss of use of each such member or part thereof, 47 which awards shall be fully payable in one lump sum upon the request of 48 the injured employee. 49 v. Additional compensation for impairment of wage earning capacity in 50 certain permanent partial disabilities. Notwithstanding any other 51 provision of this subdivision, [additional] compensation shall be paya- 52 ble for impairment of wage earning capacity [for any period after the 53 termination of an award], DURING THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF SUCH IMPAIRMENT, 54 REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AN AWARD WAS MADE under paragraphs a, b, c, [or] 55 d, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, OR U of this subdivi- 56 sion for the loss or PROPORTIONAL loss of use of [fifty per centum or A. 8124 16 1 more of] a member, provided such impairment of earning capacity shall be 2 due solely thereto. Such [additional] compensation shall be determined 3 in accordance with paragraph w of this subdivision. [The additional 4 compensation shall be reduced by fifty per centum of any amount of disa- 5 bility benefits which the disabled employee is receiving or entitled to 6 receive for the same period under the social security act, and shall 7 cease on the date the disabled employee receives or is entitled to 8 receive old-age insurance benefits under the social security act.] As 9 soon as practicable after the injury, the worker shall be required to 10 participate in a board approved rehabilitation program; or shall have 11 demonstrated cooperation with efforts to institute such a board approved 12 program and shall have been determined by the board not to be a feasible 13 candidate for rehabilitation; such rehabilitation shall constitute 14 treatment and care as provided in this chapter. 15 w. Other cases. In all other cases of permanent partial disability, 16 the compensation shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the 17 difference between the injured employee's average weekly wages and his 18 or her wage-earning capacity thereafter in the same employment or other- 19 wise. Compensation under this paragraph shall be payable during the 20 continuance of such permanent partial disability, but subject to recon- 21 sideration of the degree of such impairment by the board on its own 22 motion or upon application of any party in interest [however, all 23 compensation payable under this paragraph shall not exceed (i) five 24 hundred twenty-five weeks in cases in which the loss of wage-earning 25 capacity is greater than ninety-five percent; (ii) five hundred weeks in 26 cases in which the loss of wage-earning capacity is greater than ninety 27 percent but not more than ninety-five percent; (iii) four hundred seven- 28 ty-five weeks in cases in which the loss of wage-earning capacity is 29 greater than eighty-five percent but not more than ninety percent; (iv) 30 four hundred fifty weeks in cases in which the loss of wage-earning 31 capacity is greater than eighty percent but not more than eighty-five 32 percent; (v) four hundred twenty-five weeks in cases in which the loss 33 of wage-earning capacity is greater than seventy-five percent but not 34 more than eighty percent; (vi) four hundred weeks in cases in which the 35 loss of wage-earning capacity is greater than seventy percent but not 36 more than seventy-five percent; (vii) three hundred seventy-five weeks 37 in cases in which the loss of wage-earning capacity is greater than 38 sixty percent but not more than seventy percent; (viii) three hundred 39 fifty weeks in cases in which the loss of wage-earning capacity is 40 greater than fifty percent but not more than sixty percent; (ix) three 41 hundred weeks in cases in which the loss of wage-earning capacity is 42 greater than forty percent but not more than fifty percent; (x) two 43 hundred seventy-five weeks in cases in which the loss of wage-earning 44 capacity is greater than thirty percent but not more than forty percent; 45 (xi) two hundred fifty weeks in cases in which the loss of wage-earning 46 capacity is greater than fifteen percent but not more than thirty 47 percent; and (xii) two hundred twenty-five weeks in cases in which the 48 loss of wage-earning capacity is fifteen percent or less. For those 49 claimants classified as permanently partially disabled who no longer 50 receive indemnity payments because they have surpassed their number of 51 maximum benefit weeks, the following provisions will apply: 52 (1) There will be a presumption that medical services shall continue 53 notwithstanding the completion of the time period for compensation set 54 forth in this section and the burden of going forward and the burden of 55 proof will lie with the carrier, self-insured employer or state insur- 56 ance fund in any application before the board to discontinue or suspend A. 8124 17 1 such services. Medical services will continue during the pendency of any 2 such application and any appeals thereto. 3 (2) The board is directed to promulgate regulations that establish an 4 independent review and appeal by an outside agent or entity of the 5 board's choosing of any administrative law judge's determination to 6 discontinue or suspend medical services before a final determination of 7 the board]. 8 S 15. Paragraph a of subdivision 6 of section 15 of the workers' 9 compensation law, as amended by section 7-a of part GG of chapter 57 of 10 the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows 11 (a) Compensation for permanent or temporary total disability due to an 12 accident or disablement resulting from an occupational disease that 13 occurs, (1) on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, 14 shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars per week, that occurs 15 (2) on or after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, shall not 16 exceed one hundred eighty dollars per week, that occurs (3) on or after 17 January first, nineteen hundred seventy-nine, shall not exceed two 18 hundred fifteen dollars per week, that occurs (4) on or after July 19 first, nineteen hundred eighty-three, shall not exceed two hundred 20 fifty-five dollars per week, that occurs (5) on or after July first, 21 nineteen hundred eighty-four, shall not exceed two hundred seventy-five 22 dollars per week, that occurs (6) on or after July first, nineteen 23 hundred eighty-five, shall not exceed three hundred dollars per week, 24 that occurs (7) on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety, shall 25 not exceed three hundred forty dollars per week; and in the case of 26 temporary total disability shall not be less than thirty dollars per 27 week and in the case of permanent total disability shall not be less 28 than twenty dollars per week except that if the employee's wages at the 29 time of injury are less than thirty or twenty dollars per week respec- 30 tively, he or she shall receive his or her full weekly wages. Compen- 31 sation for permanent or temporary partial disability due to an accident 32 or disablement resulting from an occupational disease that occurs (1) on 33 or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, shall not exceed 34 one hundred five dollars per week, that occurs (2) on or after July 35 first, nineteen hundred eighty-three, shall not exceed one hundred twen- 36 ty-five dollars per week, that occurs (3) on or after July first, nine- 37 teen hundred eighty-four, shall not exceed one hundred thirty-five 38 dollars per week, that occurs (4) on or after July first, nineteen 39 hundred eighty-five, shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars per 40 week, that occurs (5) on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety, 41 shall not exceed two hundred eighty dollars per week; nor be less than 42 twenty dollars per week; except that if the employee's wages at the time 43 of injury are less than twenty dollars per week, he or she shall receive 44 his or her full weekly wages. In no event shall compensation when 45 combined with decreased earnings or earning capacity exceed the amount 46 of wages which the employee was receiving at the time the injury 47 occurred. Compensation for permanent or temporary partial disability, or 48 for permanent or temporary total disability due to an accident or disa- 49 blement resulting from an occupational disease that occurs (1) on or 50 after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-one and prior to July first, 51 nineteen hundred ninety-two, shall not exceed three hundred fifty 52 dollars per week; (2) on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety- 53 two, shall not exceed four hundred dollars per week; nor be less than 54 forty dollars per week except that if the employee's wages at the time 55 of injury are less than forty dollars per week, the employee shall 56 receive his or her full wages. Compensation for permanent or temporary A. 8124 18 1 partial disability, or for permanent or temporary total disability due 2 to an accident or disablement resulting from an occupational disease 3 that occurs (1) on or after July first, two thousand seven shall not 4 exceed five hundred dollars per week, (2) on or after July first, two 5 thousand eight shall not exceed five hundred fifty dollars per week, (3) 6 on or after July first, two thousand nine shall not exceed six hundred 7 dollars per week, and (4) on or after July first, two thousand ten, and 8 on or after July first of each succeeding year, shall not exceed two- 9 thirds of the New York state average weekly wage for the year in which 10 it is reported. Compensation for permanent or temporary partial disabil- 11 ity, or for permanent or temporary total disability due to an accident 12 or disablement resulting from an occupational disease that occurs on or 13 after July first, two thousand seven shall not be less than one hundred 14 dollars per week except that if the employee's wages at the time of 15 injury are less than one hundred dollars per week, the employee shall 16 receive his or her full wages. Compensation for permanent or temporary 17 partial disability, or for permanent or temporary total disability due 18 to an accident or disablement resulting from an occupational disease 19 that occurs on or after May first, two thousand thirteen shall not be 20 less than one hundred fifty dollars per week except that if the employ- 21 ee's wages at the time of injury are less than one hundred fifty dollars 22 per week, the employee shall receive his or her full wages. COMPEN- 23 SATION FOR PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY PARTIAL DISABILITY, OR FOR PERMANENT 24 OR TEMPORARY TOTAL DISABILITY DUE TO AN ACCIDENT OR DISABLEMENT RESULT- 25 ING FROM AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE THAT OCCURS ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE 26 DATE OF THE CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN THAT AMENDED 27 THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN ONE SEVENTH OF THE NEW YORK STATE 28 AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE EXCEPT THAT IF THE EMPLOYEE'S WEEKLY WAGE, THE 29 EMPLOYEE SHALL RECEIVE HIS OR HER FULL WAGES. In no event shall compen- 30 sation when combined with decreased earnings or earning capacity exceed 31 the amount of wages the employee was receiving at the time the injury 32 occurred. Compensation for permanent or temporary partial disability, or 33 for permanent or temporary total disability due to an accident or disa- 34 blement resulting from an occupational disease or injury that occurred 35 as a result of World Trade Center rescue activity by an employee of a 36 private voluntary hospital, who passed a physical examination upon 37 employment as a rescue worker that failed to reveal evidence of a condi- 38 tion that was the proximate cause of disablement or occupational disease 39 or injury, shall not exceed three-quarters of a claimant's wage on 40 September eleventh, two thousand one. In no event shall compensation 41 when combined with decreased earnings or earning capacity exceed the 42 amount of wages the employee was receiving on September eleventh, two 43 thousand one. 44 S 16. Section 15 of the workers' compensation law is amended by adding 45 a new subdivision 10 to read as follows: 46 10. COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS OF DISABILITY BENEFITS. (A) NOTWITH- 47 STANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER AMOUNT 48 RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE AS DISABILITY BENEFITS, AN EMPLOYEE 49 WITH A DISABILITY OR THE BENEFICIARY DEPENDENT OF SUCH EMPLOYEE SHALL BE 50 ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE, TO BE KNOWN AS A COST-OF-LIVING 51 ADJUSTMENT ALLOWANCE, PAYABLE ANNUALLY. 52 (B) THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ALLOWANCE SHALL BE COMPUTED BY 53 APPLYING AN ADJUSTMENT FOR REGIONAL COSTS OF LIVING AND SHALL BE BASED 54 ON TWO-THIRDS OF THE ANNUAL INCREASE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ALL 55 URBAN CONSUMERS (CPI-U) AS PROMULGATED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT 56 OF LABOR. A. 8124 19 1 (C) THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED OR CONSTRUED TO DIMINISH THE 2 RIGHT OF ANY EMPLOYEE OR BENEFICIARY TO ANY BENEFIT TO WHICH SUCH 3 EMPLOYEE OR BENEFICIARY WOULD OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED PURSUANT TO LAW. 4 S 17. Subdivisions 1, 1-b, 1-c, 1-d, 2, 2-a and 2-b of section 16 of 5 the workers' compensation law, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 245 6 of the laws of 2005, subdivisions 1-b, 1-c and 2 as amended by chapter 7 168 of the laws of 1979, subdivisions 1-d and 2-b as added by chapter 8 689 of the laws of 2007, subdivision 2-a as amended by chapter 174 of 9 the laws of 1981, are amended to read as follows: 10 1. Funeral expenses. The chair shall prepare and establish a schedule 11 for the state or schedules limited to defined localities of maximum 12 charges and fees for such funeral expenses, to be determined in accord- 13 ance with, and to be subject to change pursuant to, rules promulgated by 14 the chair. THE MAXIMUM CHARGES AND FEES FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES ESTAB- 15 LISHED IN A SCHEDULE OR SCHEDULES SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN TWELVE THOUSAND 16 DOLLARS. Before preparing such schedule for the state or schedules for 17 limited localities, the chair shall request the president of the New 18 York state funeral directors' association to submit to the chair a 19 report on the amount of remuneration deemed by such association to be 20 fair and adequate for the types of funeral services rendered under this 21 chapter, but consideration shall also be given to the views of other 22 interested parties. The amounts payable by the employer for such 23 services shall be the actual fees and charges up to the maximum estab- 24 lished by such schedule. Provided, however, no such schedule of charges 25 and fees shall apply where a firefighter dies from injuries received in 26 the line of duty as a direct result of firefighting or where a police 27 officer dies from injuries received in the line of duty as a direct 28 result of law enforcement activities, where such funeral expenses are 29 reasonable. If such funeral expenses shall have been paid by the claim- 30 ants entitled to compensation under this section or by others, the 31 funeral expenses awarded shall be made payable to such claimants or 32 others, otherwise they shall be made payable to the undertaker who shall 33 have provided burial. Funeral expenses shall be awarded in case of all 34 injuries causing death including cases in which there are no persons 35 entitled to other compensation under this chapter. 36 1-b. If there be a surviving spouse and no child of the deceased under 37 the age of eighteen years and no child of any age dependent blind or 38 physically disabled, and the death occurs on or after July first, nine- 39 teen hundred forty-eight, and prior to January first, nineteen hundred 40 seventy-eight, to such spouse forty per centum of the average wages of 41 the deceased [during widowhood or widowerhood with two years' compen- 42 sation in one sum, upon remarriage]; and where the death occurred prior 43 to July first, nineteen hundred forty-eight, to such wife (or dependent 44 husband) thirty per centum of such wages [during widowhood (or dependent 45 widowerhood) with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage]. 46 1-c. If there be a surviving spouse and no child of the deceased under 47 the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if 48 enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educa- 49 tional institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is 50 certified by such institution and no child of any age dependent blind or 51 physically disabled, and the death occurs on or after January first, 52 nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse sixty-six and two-thirds 53 per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or 54 widowerhood with two years' compensation, in one sum, upon remarriage]. 55 Where the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred 56 seventy-eight, and the spouse is receiving the survivors insurance bene- A. 8124 20 1 fits under the social security act, the death benefit payable under this 2 section shall be reduced in accordance with the provisions of table No. 3 1 below by five per centum of the spouse's share of the survivor's 4 insurance benefits under the social security act for each ten dollars of 5 deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one hundred dollars provided 6 that in no case shall such reduction exceed fifty per centum of said 7 spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under the social 8 security act. 9 TABLE No. I 10 Offset provisions applicable in death benefits 11 where there is a sole surviving spouse 12 AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE PERCENTAGE OF SPOUSE'S 13 SHARE OF SURVIVORS 14 INSURANCE BENEFITS 15 over $100 up to and including $110 ................................... 5 16 over $110 up to and including $120 .................................. 10 17 over $120 up to and including $130 .................................. 15 18 over $130 up to and including $140 .................................. 20 19 over $140 up to and including $150 .................................. 25 20 over $150 up to and including $160 .................................. 30 21 over $160 up to and including $170 .................................. 35 22 over $170 up to and including $180 .................................. 40 23 over $180 up to and including $190 .................................. 45 24 over $190 up to and including $200 .................................. 50 25 over $200 ........................................................... 50 26 1-d. If there be a surviving spouse of an employee of a private volun- 27 tary hospital killed in a World Trade Center rescue, who passed a phys- 28 ical examination upon employment as a rescue worker that failed to 29 reveal evidence of a condition that was the proximate cause of death, 30 and no child of the deceased under the age of eighteen years, or under 31 the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full-time 32 student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and 33 full-time attendance is certified by such institution, and no child of 34 any age dependent blind or physically disabled, to such spouse seventy- 35 five per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood 36 or widowerhood, with two years' compensation, in one sum, upon remar- 37 riage]. Where such death occurs, and the spouse is receiving the survi- 38 vors insurance benefits under the social security act, the death benefit 39 payable under this section shall be reduced in accordance with the 40 provisions of table No. I in subdivision one-c of this section by five 41 per centum of the spouse's share of the survivor's insurance benefits 42 under the social security act for each ten dollars of deceased's average 43 weekly wage in excess of one hundred dollars; provided that in no case 44 shall such reduction exceed fifty per centum of such spouse's share of 45 the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act. 46 2. If there be a surviving spouse and a surviving child or children of 47 the deceased under the age of eighteen years or a surviving child or 48 children of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, and the 49 death occurs on or after July first, nineteen hundred forty-eight, and 50 prior to January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse 51 thirty per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood 52 or widowerhood with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remar- 53 riage]; and the additional amount of twenty per centum of such wages for A. 8124 21 1 each such child until the age of eighteen years or until the removal of 2 the dependency of the blind or physically disabled child or children; in 3 case of the subsequent death [or remarriage] of such surviving spouse 4 any surviving child of the deceased employee, at the time under eighteen 5 years of age or dependent through mental or physical infirmity, shall 6 have his OR HER compensation increased to thirty per centum of such 7 wages, and the same shall be payable until he shall reach the age of 8 eighteen years or until such dependent blind or physically disabled 9 condition shall have been removed; provided that the total amount paya- 10 ble shall in no case exceed sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such 11 wages. Upon statutory termination of compensation payments to all such 12 children, the compensation of the surviving spouse shall be increased to 13 forty per centum of such wages [with two years' compensation, at such 14 rate, in one sum, upon remarriage]. 15 If there be a surviving wife (or dependent husband) and any of the 16 aforementioned surviving children, and the death occurred prior to July 17 first, nineteen hundred forty-eight, to such wife (or dependent husband) 18 thirty per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood 19 (or dependent widowerhood) with two years' compensation in one sum, upon 20 remarriage]; and the additional amount of ten per centum of such wages 21 for each such child until eighteen years of age or until the removal of 22 the dependency of the blind or physically disabled child or children; in 23 case of the subsequent death [or remarriage] of such surviving wife (or 24 dependent husband) any surviving child of the deceased shall have his OR 25 HER compensation increased to fifteen per centum of such wages until he 26 shall reach the age of eighteen years or until such dependent blind or 27 physically disabled condition shall have been removed; provided that the 28 total amount payable shall in no case exceed sixty-six and two-thirds 29 per centum of such wages. 30 The board may in its discretion require the appointment of a guardian 31 for the purpose of receiving the compensation of a minor child or a 32 dependent blind or physically disabled child. In the absence of such a 33 requirement by the board the appointment of a guardian for such purposes 34 shall not be necessary. 35 2-a. If there be a surviving spouse and a surviving child under the 36 age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled 37 and attending as a full time student in an accredited educational insti- 38 tution and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such 39 institution or a surviving child of any age dependent blind or phys- 40 ically disabled and the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen 41 hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse thirty-six and two-thirds per 42 centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or widow- 43 erhood with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage]; and 44 thirty per centum of such wages to such child under the age of eighteen 45 years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending 46 as a full time student in an accredited educational institution and such 47 enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution or 48 a surviving child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled; in 49 the case of the subsequent death of such surviving spouse the surviving 50 child shall have his OR HER compensation increased to sixty-six and 51 two-thirds per centum of such wages and the same shall be payable so 52 long as he OR SHE is under the age of eighteen years or under the age of 53 twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full time student in 54 an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full time 55 attendance is certified by such institution or a surviving child of any 56 age dependent blind or physically disabled; upon statutory termination A. 8124 22 1 of compensation payable to such child, the compensation of the surviving 2 spouse shall be increased to sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such 3 wages [with two years' compensation, at such rate, in one sum, upon 4 remarriage. Upon remarriage of such surviving spouse, the surviving 5 child shall continue to receive thirty per centum of such wages]. Where 6 the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy- 7 eight and the spouse is receiving survivors insurance benefits under the 8 social security act, the death benefit payable under this section shall 9 be reduced by five per centum of the spouse's share of the survivors 10 insurance benefits under the social security act for each ten dollars of 11 deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one hundred dollars provided 12 that in no case shall such reduction exceed fifty per centum of said 13 spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under the social 14 security act as set forth in table No. I below. 15 TABLE No. I 16 Offset provisions applicable in death benefits 17 where there is a surviving spouse and one child 18 AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE PERCENTAGE OF SPOUSE'S 19 SHARE OF SURVIVORS 20 INSURANCE BENEFITS 21 over $100 up to and including $110 ................................... 5 22 over $110 up to and including $120 .................................. 10 23 over $120 up to and including $130 .................................. 15 24 over $130 up to and including $140 .................................. 20 25 over $140 up to and including $150 .................................. 25 26 over $150 up to and including $160 .................................. 30 27 over $160 up to and including $170 .................................. 35 28 over $170 up to and including $180 .................................. 40 29 over $180 up to and including $190 .................................. 45 30 over $190 up to and including $200 .................................. 50 31 over $200 ........................................................... 50 32 If there be a surviving spouse and two or more surviving children 33 under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years 34 if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educa- 35 tional institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is 36 certified by such institution or a surviving child or children of any 37 age dependent blind or physically disabled and a death occurs on or 38 after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse 39 thirty-six and two-thirds per centum of the average wage of the deceased 40 [during widowhood or widowerhood with two years' compensation in one sum 41 upon remarriage]; and thirty per centum of such wages to such children 42 under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years 43 if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educa- 44 tional institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is 45 certified by such institution or a surviving child or children of any 46 age dependent blind or physically disabled, share and share alike; in 47 case of the subsequent death of such surviving spouse the surviving 48 children shall have their compensation increased to sixty-six and two- 49 thirds per centum of such wages and the aggregate sum shall be payable, 50 share and share alike, so long as they are under the age of eighteen 51 years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending 52 as a full time student in an accredited educational institution and such 53 enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution or A. 8124 23 1 a surviving child or children of any age dependent blind or physically 2 disabled. [Upon remarriage of such surviving spouse, if there be two 3 surviving children each shall receive twenty-five per centum of such 4 wages, and if there are surviving more than two children under the age 5 of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three if enrolled and 6 attending as a full time student in an accredited educational institu- 7 tion and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such 8 institution or a surviving child or children of any age dependent blind 9 or physically disabled sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such wages 10 share and share alike.] Upon statutory termination of compensation paya- 11 ble to such children, the compensation of the surviving spouse shall be 12 increased to sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such wages [with two 13 years' compensation, at such rate, in one sum, upon remarriage]. Where 14 the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy- 15 eight, and the spouse is receiving survivors insurance benefits under 16 the social security act, the death benefits payable under this section 17 shall be reduced by five per centum of the spouse's share of the survi- 18 vors insurance benefits under the social security act for each ten 19 dollars of deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one hundred fifty 20 dollars provided that in no case shall such reduction exceed fifty per 21 centum of said spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under 22 the social security act as set forth in table No. II below. 23 TABLE No. II 24 Offset provisions applicable in death benefits 25 where there is a surviving spouse and two or more children 26 AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE PERCENTAGE OF SPOUSE'S 27 SHARE OF SURVIVORS 28 INSURANCE BENEFITS 29 over $150 up to and including $160 ................................... 5 30 over $160 up to and including $170 .................................. 10 31 over $170 up to and including $180 .................................. 15 32 over $180 up to and including $190 .................................. 20 33 over $190 up to and including $200 .................................. 25 34 over $200 up to and including $210 .................................. 30 35 over $210 up to and including $220 .................................. 35 36 over $220 up to and including $230 .................................. 40 37 over $230 up to and including $240 .................................. 45 38 over $240 up to and including $250 .................................. 50 39 over $250 ........................................................... 50 40 2-b. If there be a surviving spouse of an employee of a private volun- 41 tary hospital killed in a World Trade Center rescue, who passed a phys- 42 ical examination upon employment as a rescue worker that failed to 43 reveal evidence of a condition that was the proximate cause of death, 44 and a surviving child under the age of eighteen years, or under the age 45 of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full-time student 46 in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full- 47 time attendance is certified by such institution, or a surviving child 48 of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, to such spouse forty 49 per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or 50 widowerhood, with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage]; 51 and thirty-five per centum of such wages to such child under the age of 52 eighteen years, or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and 53 attending as a full-time student in an accredited educational institu- A. 8124 24 1 tion and such enrollment and full-time attendance is certified by such 2 institution, or a surviving child of any age dependent blind or phys- 3 ically disabled; in the case of the subsequent death of such surviving 4 spouse the surviving child shall have his or her compensation increased 5 to seventy-five per centum of such wages and the same shall be payable 6 so long as he or she is under the age of eighteen years, or under the 7 age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full-time 8 student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and 9 full-time attendance is certified by such institution, or a surviving 10 child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled; upon statutory 11 termination of compensation payable to such child, the compensation of 12 the surviving spouse shall be increased to seventy-five per centum of 13 such wages [with two years' compensation, at such rate, in one sum, upon 14 remarriage. Upon remarriage of such surviving spouse, the surviving 15 child shall continue to receive thirty-five per centum of such wages]. 16 Where such death occurs, and the spouse is receiving survivors insurance 17 benefits under the social security act, the death benefit payable under 18 this section shall be reduced by five per centum of the spouse's share 19 of the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act for 20 each ten dollars of deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one 21 hundred dollars; provided that in no case shall such reduction exceed 22 fifty per centum of such spouse's share of the survivors insurance bene- 23 fits under the social security act as set forth in table No. I in subdi- 24 vision one-c of this section. If there be a surviving spouse of an 25 employee of a private voluntary hospital killed in a World Trade Center 26 rescue, who passed a physical examination upon employment as a rescue 27 worker that failed to reveal evidence of a condition that was the proxi- 28 mate cause of death, and two or more surviving children under the age of 29 eighteen years, or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and 30 attending as a full-time student in an accredited educational institu- 31 tion and such enrollment and full-time attendance is certified by such 32 institution, or a surviving child or children of any age dependent blind 33 or physically disabled and a death occurs on or after September elev- 34 enth, two thousand one, to such spouse forty per centum of the average 35 wage of the deceased [during widowhood or widowerhood with two years' 36 compensation in one sum upon remarriage]; and thirty-five per centum of 37 such wages to such children under the age of eighteen years, or under 38 the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full-time 39 student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and 40 full-time attendance is certified by such institution, or a surviving 41 child or children of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, 42 share and share alike; in case of the subsequent death of such surviving 43 spouse the surviving children shall have their compensation increased to 44 seventy-five per centum of such wages and the aggregate sum shall be 45 payable, share and share alike, so long as they are under the age of 46 eighteen years, or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and 47 attending as a full-time student in an accredited educational institu- 48 tion and such enrollment and full-time attendance is certified by such 49 institution, or a surviving child or children of any age dependent blind 50 or physically disabled. [Upon remarriage of such surviving spouse, if 51 there be two surviving children each shall receive thirty-seven and 52 one-half per centum of such wages, and if there are surviving more than 53 two children under the age of eighteen years, or under the age of twen- 54 ty-three if enrolled and attending as a full-time student in an accred- 55 ited educational institution and such enrollment and full-time attend- 56 ance is certified by such institution, or a surviving child or children A. 8124 25 1 of any age dependant blind or physically disabled, seventy-five per 2 centum of such wages share and share alike.] Upon statutory termination 3 of compensation payable to such children, the compensation of the 4 surviving spouse shall be increased to seventy-five per centum of such 5 wages [with two years' compensation, at such rate, in one sum, upon 6 remarriage]. Where the death occurs on or after September eleventh, two 7 thousand one, and the spouse is receiving survivors insurance benefits 8 under the social security act, the death benefits payable under this 9 section shall be reduced by five per centum of the spouse's share of the 10 survivors insurance benefits under the social security act for each ten 11 dollars of deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one hundred fifty 12 dollars; provided that in no case shall such reduction exceed fifty per 13 centum of said spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under 14 the social security act as set forth in table No. II in subdivision 15 two-a of this section. 16 S 18. Section 16 of the workers' compensation law is amended by adding 17 a new subdivision 8 to read as follows: 18 8. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, IN ADDITION TO ANY 19 OTHER AMOUNT RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE AS DEATH BENEFITS, A 20 DEPENDENT OF A DECEASED EMPLOYEE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL 21 ALLOWANCE, TO BE KNOWN AS A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ALLOWANCE, PAYABLE 22 ANNUALLY. 23 (B) THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ALLOWANCE SHALL BE COMPUTED BY 24 APPLYING AN ADJUSTMENT FOR REGIONAL COSTS OF LIVING IN THE REGION WHERE 25 THE DECEASED EMPLOYEE LIVED AT THE TIME OF DEATH OR INITIAL DISABILITY, 26 WHICHEVER WAS EARLIER, AND SHALL BE BASED ON TWO-THIRDS OF THE ANNUAL 27 INCREASE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS (CPI-U) AS 28 PROMULGATED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 29 (C) THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED OR CONSTRUED TO DIMINISH THE 30 RIGHT OF ANY BENEFICIARY TO ANY BENEFITS TO WHICH SUCH BENEFICIARY WOULD 31 OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED PURSUANT TO LAW. 32 S 19. Section 17 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by chap- 33 ter 538 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows: 34 S 17. Aliens. Compensation under this chapter to aliens not residents 35 or about to become nonresidents of the United States or Canada AND THEIR 36 SURVIVING DEPENDENTS, shall be the same in amount as provided for resi- 37 dents[, except that dependents in any foreign country shall be limited 38 to surviving spouse and child or children, or, if there is no surviving 39 spouse or child or children, to surviving father or mother whom the 40 employee has supported, either wholly or in part, for the period of one 41 year prior to the date of the accident]. 42 S 20. Section 21 of the workers' compensation law, subdivision 5 as 43 amended by chapter 268 of the laws of 1946, is amended to read as 44 follows: 45 S 21. Presumptions. In any proceeding for the enforcement of a claim 46 for compensation under this chapter, it shall be presumed in the absence 47 of substantial evidence to the contrary: 48 1. That the claim comes within the provision of this chapter[;]. 49 2. That sufficient notice thereof was given[;]. 50 3. That the injury was not occasioned by the willful intention of the 51 injured employee to bring about the injury or death of himself or of 52 another[;]. 53 4. That the injury did not result solely from the intoxication of the 54 injured employee while on duty. A. 8124 26 1 5. That the contents of medical and surgical reports introduced in 2 evidence by claimants for compensation shall constitute prima facie 3 evidence of fact as to the matter contained therein. 4 6. THAT AN INJURED WORKER WHOSE EMPLOYER HAS NOT OFFERED HER OR HIM 5 REEMPLOYMENT HAS NOT VOLUNTARILY WITHDRAWN FROM THE LABOR MARKET. 6 S 21. Section 23 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by 7 section 10 of part GG of chapter 57 of the laws of 2013, is amended to 8 read as follows: 9 S 23. Appeals. An award or decision of the board shall be final and 10 conclusive upon all questions within its jurisdiction, as against the 11 state fund or between the parties, unless reversed or modified on appeal 12 therefrom as hereinafter provided. Any party may within thirty days 13 after notice of the filing of an award or decision of a referee, file 14 with the board an application in writing for a modification or rescis- 15 sion or review of such award or decision, as provided in this chapter. 16 The board shall render its decision upon such application in writing and 17 shall include in such decision a statement of the facts which formed the 18 basis of its action on the issues raised before it on such application. 19 Within thirty days after notice of the decision of the board upon such 20 application has been served upon the parties, or within thirty days 21 after notice of an administrative redetermination review decision by the 22 chair pursuant to subdivision five of section fifty-two, section one 23 hundred thirty-one or section one hundred forty-one-a of this chapter 24 has been served upon any party in interest, an appeal may be taken ther- 25 efrom to the appellate division of the supreme court, third department, 26 by any party in interest, including an employer insured in the state 27 fund; provided, however, that any party in interest may within thirty 28 days after notice of the filing of the board panel's decision with the 29 secretary of the board, make application in writing for review thereof 30 by the full board. If the decision or determination was that of a panel 31 of the board and there was a dissent from such decision or determination 32 other than a dissent the sole basis of which is to refer the case to an 33 impartial specialist, the full board shall review and affirm, modify or 34 rescind such decision or determination in the same manner as herein 35 above provided for an award or decision of a referee. If the decision 36 or determination was that of a unanimous panel of the board, or there 37 was a dissent from such decision or determination the sole basis of 38 which is to refer the case to an impartial specialist, the board may in 39 its sole discretion review and affirm, modify or rescind such decision 40 or determination in the same manner as herein above provided for an 41 award or decision of a referee. Failure to apply for review by the full 42 board shall not bar any party in interest from taking an appeal directly 43 to the court as above provided. The board may also, in its discretion 44 certify to such appellate division of the supreme court, questions of 45 law involved in its decision. Such appeals and the question so certified 46 shall be heard in a summary manner and shall have precedence over all 47 other civil cases in such court. The board shall be deemed a party to 48 every such appeal from its decision upon such application, and the chair 49 shall be deemed a party to every such appeal from an administrative 50 redetermination review decision pursuant to subdivision five of section 51 fifty-two of this chapter. The attorney general shall represent the 52 board and the chair thereon. An appeal may also be taken to the court of 53 appeals in the same manner and subject to the same limitations not 54 inconsistent herewith as is now provided in the civil practice law and 55 rules. It shall not be necessary to file exceptions to the rulings of 56 the board. An appeal to the appellate division of the supreme court, A. 8124 27 1 third department, or to the court of appeals, shall not operate as a 2 stay of the payment of compensation required by the terms of the award 3 or of the payment of the cost of such medical, dental, surgical, optome- 4 tric or other attendance, treatment, devices, apparatus or other neces- 5 sary items the employer is required to provide pursuant to section thir- 6 teen of this article which are found to be fair and reasonable. Where 7 such award is modified or rescinded upon appeal, the appellant shall be 8 entitled to reimbursement in a sum equal to the compensation in dispute 9 paid to the respondent in addition to a sum equal to the cost of such 10 medical, dental, surgical, optometric or other attendance, treatment, 11 devices, apparatus or other necessary items the employer is required to 12 provide pursuant to section thirteen of this article paid by the appel- 13 lant pending adjudication of the appeal. Such reimbursement shall be 14 paid from administration expenses as provided in section one hundred 15 fifty-one of this chapter upon audit and warrant of the comptroller upon 16 vouchers approved by the chair. Where such award is subject to the 17 provisions of section twenty-seven of this article, the appellant shall 18 pay directly to the claimant all compensation as it becomes due during 19 the pendency of the appeal, and upon affirmance shall be entitled to 20 credit for such payments. Neither the chair, the board, the commission- 21 ers of the state insurance fund nor the claimant shall be required to 22 file a bond upon an appeal to the court of appeals. Upon final determi- 23 nation of such an appeal, the board or chair, as the case may be, shall 24 enter an order in accordance therewith. Whenever a notice of appeal is 25 served or an application made to the board by the employer or insurance 26 carrier for a modification or rescission or review of an award or deci- 27 sion, and the board shall find that such notice of appeal was served or 28 such application was made for the purpose of delay or upon frivolous 29 grounds, the board shall impose a penalty in the amount of five hundred 30 dollars upon the employer or insurance carrier, which penalty shall be 31 added to the compensation and paid to the claimant. The penalties 32 provided herein shall be collected in like manner as compensation. A 33 party against whom an award of compensation shall be made may appeal 34 from a part of such award. In such a case the payment of such part of 35 the award as is not appealed from shall not prejudice any rights of such 36 party on appeal, nor be taken as an admission against such party. Any 37 appeal by an employer from an administrative redetermination review 38 decision pursuant to subdivision five of section fifty-two of this chap- 39 ter shall in no way serve to relieve the employer from the obligation to 40 timely pay compensation and benefits otherwise payable in accordance 41 with the provisions of this chapter. 42 APPLICATIONS OR PETITIONS TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW, MODIFICATION, 43 RESCISSION, REHEARING OR REVIEW BY THE FULL BOARD MUST BE DECIDED WITHIN 44 THIRTY DAYS OF THE PETITION OR APPLICATION OR WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF 45 COMPLETION OF MOTION PRACTICE ON THE PETITION OR APPLICATION, WHICHEVER 46 IS LATER. 47 Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to inhibit the 48 continuing jurisdiction of the board as provided in section one hundred 49 twenty-three of this chapter. 50 S 22. Section 77 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by chap- 51 ter 6 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows: 52 S 77. Administration. The state insurance fund shall be administered 53 by the commissioners of the state insurance fund, of whom there shall be 54 [ten] EIGHT. The commissioner of labor AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 55 OF THE NEW YORK STATE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR-CONGRESS OF INDUS- 56 TRIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK A. 8124 28 1 shall, in addition, be [a commissioner] COMMISSIONERS of such fund by 2 virtue of [his or her office] THEIR OFFICES. The commissioners shall 3 elect annually from the appointive members a chair and a vice-chair who 4 shall act as chair in the absence of the chair. The commissioner of 5 labor may designate a deputy commissioner AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFI- 6 CERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR-CONGRESS OF 7 INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF NEW 8 YORK MAY EACH DESIGNATE A REPRESENTATIVE to [act in his or her] EXECUTE 9 THEIR DUTIES AS COMMISSIONERS OF SUCH FUND IN THEIR place and stead [as 10 a commissioner of such fund]. The REMAINING commissioners shall be 11 appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the 12 senate. [One commissioner shall be appointed by the governor upon recom- 13 mendation by the New York State American Federation of Labor-Congress of 14 Industrial Organizations, and one commissioner shall be appointed by the 15 governor upon recommendation of the Business Council of the State of New 16 York.] They shall be policyholders insured in the state insurance fund. 17 The commissioners shall be appointed for terms of three years each. They 18 shall serve until their successors are appointed and have qualified. 19 Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms. Each commissioner 20 shall before entering upon his or her duties, take and subscribe the 21 constitutional oath of office which shall be filed in the office of the 22 secretary of state. 23 S 23. Section 114 of the workers' compensation law, as added by chap- 24 ter 635 of the laws of 1996, subdivision 4 as amended and subdivision 5 25 as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as 26 follows: 27 S 114. Penalties for fraudulent practices. 1. Any person who, knowing- 28 ly and with intent to defraud presents, causes to be presented, or 29 prepares with knowledge or belief that it will be presented to or by an 30 insurer or purported insurer, or any agent thereof, any written state- 31 ment as part of, or in support of, an application for the issuance of or 32 the rating of an insurance policy for compensation insurance[, or a 33 claim for payment or other benefit pursuant to a compensation policy] 34 which he or she knows to: (i) contain a false statement or represen- 35 tation concerning any fact material thereto; or (ii) omits any fact 36 material thereto, shall be guilty of a class E felony. Upon conviction, 37 the court in addition to any other authorized sentence, may order 38 forfeiture of [all rights to compensation or payments of any benefit] 39 ANY PROPERTY, INCLUDING REAL PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND APPURTENANCES THAT 40 CONSTITUTE THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE ENTITY ON WHOSE BEHALF THE APPLI- 41 CATION WAS MADE, and may also require restitution of any amount received 42 as a result of a violation of this subdivision. 43 1-A. ANY PERSON WHO, KNOWINGLY AND WITH INTENT TO DEFRAUD PRESENTS, 44 CAUSES TO BE PRESENTED, OR PREPARES WITH KNOWLEDGE OR BELIEF THAT IT 45 WILL BE PRESENTED TO OR BY AN INSURER OR PURPORTED INSURER, OR ANY AGENT 46 THEREOF, ANY WRITTEN STATEMENT AS PART OF, OR IN SUPPORT OF, A CLAIM FOR 47 PAYMENT OR OTHER BENEFIT PURSUANT TO A COMPENSATION POLICY WHICH HE OR 48 SHE KNOWS TO: (I) CONTAIN A FALSE STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATION CONCERNING 49 ANY FACT MATERIAL THERETO; OR (II) OMITS ANY FACT MATERIAL THERETO, 50 SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E FELONY. UPON CONVICTION, THE COURT IN ADDI- 51 TION TO ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED SENTENCE, MAY ORDER FORFEITURE OF ALL 52 RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION OR PAYMENTS OF ANY BENEFIT, AND MAY ALSO REQUIRE 53 RESTITUTION OF ANY AMOUNT RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF THIS 54 SUBDIVISION. 55 2. An employer or carrier, or any employee, agent, or person acting on 56 behalf of an employer or carrier, who knowingly makes a false statement A. 8124 29 1 or representation as to a material fact in the course of reporting, 2 investigation of, or adjusting a claim for any benefit or payment under 3 this chapter for the purpose of avoiding provision of such payment or 4 benefit shall be guilty of a class E felony. UPON CONVICTION, THE COURT 5 IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED SENTENCE, MAY ORDER FORFEITURE OF 6 ANY PROPERTY, INCLUDING REAL PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND APPURTENANCES THAT 7 CONSTITUTE THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE EMPLOYER OR CARRIER AND MAY ALSO 8 REQUIRE RESTITUTION OF ANY AMOUNT RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION OF 9 THIS SUBDIVISION. 10 3. A person who knowingly makes a false statement or representation as 11 to a material fact for the purpose of obtaining, maintaining or renewing 12 insurance under this chapter, whether for himself or herself or for any 13 other person or entity or for the purpose of evading the requirements of 14 section fifty of this chapter shall be guilty of a class E felony. UPON 15 CONVICTION, THE COURT IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED SENTENCE, MAY 16 ORDER FORFEITURE OF ANY PROPERTY, INCLUDING REAL PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND 17 APPURTENANCES THAT CONSTITUTE THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE ENTITY ON WHOSE 18 BEHALF THE APPLICATION WAS MADE. In addition to any other remedy, the 19 carrier providing insurance shall be entitled to restitution of any 20 amount obtained or withheld as a result of a violation of this subdivi- 21 sion. 22 4. Consistent with the provisions of the criminal procedure law, in 23 any prosecution alleging a violation of subdivision one, two or three of 24 this section, or sections fifty-two and one hundred thirty-one of this 25 chapter, in which the act or acts alleged may also constitute a 26 violation of the penal or other law, the prosecuting official may charge 27 a person pursuant to the provisions of this section and in the same 28 accusatory instrument with a violation of such other law. 29 5. A person (a) who is convicted of a second or subsequent offense 30 under this section within ten years of the prior conviction, or (b) who 31 violates any provision of this section concerning two or more claimants, 32 shall be guilty of a class [D] B felony. 33 S 24. Section 122 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by 34 chapter 113 of the laws of 1946, is amended to read as follows: 35 S 122. Transcripts. A copy of the testimony, evidence and procedure of 36 any investigation, or a particular part thereof, RECORDED AND tran- 37 scribed by a stenographer in the employ of the board and certified by 38 such stenographer to be true and correct may be received in evidence 39 with the same effect as if such stenographer were present and testifying 40 to the facts so certified. A copy of such transcript shall be furnished 41 to any party upon payment of the fee for transcripts of similar minutes 42 in the supreme court. 43 S 25. Section 140 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by 44 chapter 57 of the laws of 1951, is amended to read as follows: 45 S 140. [Workmen's] WORKERS' compensation board. The [workmen's] WORK- 46 ERS' compensation board in the department of labor is hereby continued. 47 Such board shall consist of thirteen members, at least four of whom 48 shall be attorneys and counsellors-at-law duly admitted to practice in 49 this state. The members of the board shall be appointed by the governor, 50 by and with the advice and consent of the senate. THREE MEMBERS SHALL 51 BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE 52 ASSEMBLY; THREE MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON RECOM- 53 MENDATION OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE 54 APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE 55 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR-CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS; AND 56 TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON RECOMMENDATION OF A. 8124 30 1 THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The members of the board 2 in office, together with the additional members and the members 3 appointed to fill vacancies, if any, at the time this section takes 4 effect, shall continue, notwithstanding the appointment of any of the 5 members for a term expiring on a different date, to hold office for 6 terms to be assigned by the governor by and with the advice and consent 7 of the senate; two such terms to expire on December thirty-first, nine- 8 teen hundred fifty; two to expire on December thirty-first, nineteen 9 hundred fifty-one; two to expire on December thirty-first, nineteen 10 hundred fifty-two; two to expire on December thirty-first, nineteen 11 hundred fifty-three; two to expire on December thirty-first, nineteen 12 hundred fifty-four; two to expire on December thirty-first, nineteen 13 hundred fifty-five; and one to expire on December thirty-first, nineteen 14 hundred fifty-six. The members next appointed, except to fill a vacancy 15 created otherwise than by expiration of term, shall be appointed for 16 terms of seven years. The governor shall designate one of the members of 17 the board as chairman and another as vice-chairman. 18 S 26. Subdivision 1 of section 169 of the executive law, as amended by 19 section 9 of part A of chapter 60 of the laws of 2012, is amended to 20 read as follows: 21 1. Salaries of certain state officers holding the positions indicated 22 hereinbelow shall be as set forth in subdivision two of this section: 23 (a) commissioner of corrections and community supervision, commission- 24 er of education, commissioner of health, commissioner of mental health, 25 commissioner of developmental disabilities, commissioner of children and 26 family services, commissioner of temporary and disability assistance, 27 chancellor of the state university of New York, commissioner of trans- 28 portation, commissioner of environmental conservation, superintendent of 29 state police, commissioner of general services, commissioner of the 30 division of homeland security and emergency services [and], the execu- 31 tive director of the state gaming commission, AND THE CHAIR OF THE WORK- 32 ERS' COMPENSATION BOARD; 33 (b) commissioner of labor, chairman of public service commission, 34 commissioner of taxation and finance, superintendent of financial 35 services, commissioner of criminal justice services, [and] commissioner 36 of parks, recreation and historic preservation, AND THE VICE-CHAIR OF 37 THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD; 38 (c) commissioner of agriculture and markets, commissioner of alcohol- 39 ism and substance abuse services, adjutant general, commissioner and 40 president of state civil service commission, commissioner of economic 41 development, chair of the energy research and development authority, 42 president of higher education services corporation, commissioner of 43 motor vehicles, member-chair of board of parole, chair of public employ- 44 ment relations board, secretary of state, commissioner of alcoholism and 45 substance abuse services, executive director of the housing finance 46 agency, commissioner of housing and community renewal, executive direc- 47 tor of state insurance fund, commissioner-chair of state liquor authori- 48 ty, [chair] AND MEMBERS of the workers' compensation board; 49 (d) director of office for the aging, commissioner of human rights, 50 commissioners of the department of public service, chairman of state 51 commission on quality of care for the mentally disabled, chairman of 52 commission on alcoholism and substance abuse prevention and education, 53 executive director of the council on the arts and executive director of 54 the board of social welfare; 55 (e) chairman of state athletic commission, director of the office of 56 victim services, chairman of human rights appeal board, chairman of the A. 8124 31 1 industrial board of appeals, chairman of the state commission of 2 correction, members of the board of parole, member-chairman of unemploy- 3 ment insurance appeal board, AND director of veterans' affairs[, and 4 vice-chairman of the workers' compensation board]; 5 (f) executive director of adirondack park agency, members of state 6 commission of correction, AND members of unemployment insurance appeal 7 board[, and members of the workers' compensation board]. 8 S 27. Paragraph 1 of subsection (t) of section 2313 of the insurance 9 law, as amended by chapter 237 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read 10 as follows: 11 (1) The governing body of a workers' compensation rate service organ- 12 ization shall be comprised of nine voting members. Four members shall 13 represent insurers authorized to write workers' compensation insurance 14 in this state, and shall be selected in such manner as is determined by 15 the members of the rate service organization. One member of the govern- 16 ing body shall be a representative of the state insurance fund. Each of 17 the remaining four members of the governing body shall serve for a term 18 of two years and until his or her successor shall have been appointed 19 and approved, provided that the appointing entity appoints a successor 20 member within one hundred twenty days of the expiration of the term of 21 office, and shall not be employed by, or serve as an officer or director 22 of, an insurer authorized to write workers' compensation insurance in 23 this state, or any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate thereof, EXCEPT THE 24 STATE INSURANCE FUND. One such member of the governing body shall be 25 appointed by the superintendent. The other three such members shall be 26 appointed subject to the approval of the superintendent by, AND SHALL 27 SERVE AS REPRESENTATIVES OF, the following: (A) the workers' compen- 28 sation board; (B) the Business Council of New York State, Inc.; and (C) 29 the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations 30 of New York State. Any vacancy on the governing body shall be filled in 31 the same manner as the initial appointment. The governing body shall 32 select a chief executive officer who shall serve at the pleasure of the 33 governing body and whose terms and conditions of employment shall be 34 approved by the governing body. No restriction in this subsection shall 35 apply if compliance is prevented by the failure of any appointing 36 authority to make an appointment, or of the superintendent to approve 37 such appointment. 38 S 28. Section 71 of the civil service law, as amended by chapter 577 39 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows: 40 S 71. Reinstatement after separation for disability. Where an employee 41 has been separated from the service by reason of a disability resulting 42 from occupational injury or disease as defined in the [workmen's] WORK- 43 ERS' compensation law, he or she shall be entitled to a leave of absence 44 for at least one year, unless his or her disability is of such a nature 45 as to permanently incapacitate him or her for the performance of the 46 duties of his or her position. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where an 47 employee has been separated from the service by reason of a disability 48 resulting from an assault sustained in the course of his or her employ- 49 ment, he or she shall be entitled to a leave of absence for at least two 50 years, unless his or her disability is of such a nature as to permanent- 51 ly incapacitate him or her for the performance of the duties of his or 52 her position. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, WHERE AN EMPLOYEE IS ABSENT 53 BY REASON OF A DISABILITY RESULTING FROM OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR DISEASE 54 AS DEFINED IN THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW AND THAT EMPLOYEE HAS NOT 55 YET RECEIVED CARE DIRECTED BY HIS OR HER TREATING PROVIDER AS A RESULT 56 OF THE EMPLOYER OR CARRIER'S DISPUTE, THAT EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO AN A. 8124 32 1 INDEFINITE LEAVE OF ABSENCE, UNLESS HIS OR HER DISABILITY IS OF SUCH A 2 NATURE AS TO PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATE HIM OR HER FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF 3 THE DUTIES OF HIS OR HER POSITION. Such employee may, within one year 4 after the termination of such disability, make application to the civil 5 service department or municipal commission having jurisdiction over the 6 position last held by such employee for a medical examination to be 7 conducted by a medical officer selected for that purpose by such depart- 8 ment or commission. If, upon such medical examination, such medical 9 officer shall certify that such person is physically and mentally fit to 10 perform the duties of his or her former position, he or she shall be 11 reinstated to his or her former position, if vacant, or to a vacancy in 12 a similar position or a position in a lower grade in the same occupa- 13 tional field, or to a vacant position for which he or she was eligible 14 for transfer. If no appropriate vacancy shall exist to which rein- 15 statement may be made, or if the work load does not warrant the filling 16 of such vacancy, the name of such person shall be placed upon a 17 preferred list for his or her former position, and he or she shall be 18 eligible for reinstatement from such preferred list for a period of four 19 years. In the event that such person is reinstated to a position in a 20 grade lower than that of his or her former position, his or her name 21 shall be placed on the preferred eligible list for his or her former 22 position or any similar position. This section shall not be deemed to 23 modify or supersede any other provisions of law applicable to the re-em- 24 ployment of persons retired from the public service on account of disa- 25 bility. 26 S 29. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 460.10 of the penal 27 law, as amended by chapter 442 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read 28 as follows: 29 (b) Any felony set forth elsewhere in the laws of this state and 30 defined by the tax law relating to alcoholic beverage, cigarette, gaso- 31 line and similar motor fuel taxes; article seventy-one of the environ- 32 mental conservation law relating to water pollution, hazardous waste or 33 substances hazardous or acutely hazardous to public health or safety of 34 the environment; article twenty-three-A of the general business law 35 relating to prohibited acts concerning stocks, bonds and other securi- 36 ties, article twenty-two of the general business law concerning monopo- 37 lies, ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW CONCERNING FRAUD. 38 S 30. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 39 have become a law; provided, however that the amendments to paragraph 1 40 of subsection (t) of section 2313 of the insurance law made by section 41 twenty-seven of this act shall not affect the repeal of such subsection 42 and shall be deemed repealed therewith.