Bill Would Strip State of Right to Self-Insure

The state of Colorado would be required to buy workers’ compensation coverage for its workers under a bill introduced this week. Senate Bill 149, by Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, would remove statutory authorization for the state to self-insure its workers’ compensation risks. At the same time, the bill would prohibit the state from suggesting or requiring that a state worker resign as a condition of settling a workers’ compensation claim. The bill would also prohibit the state from encouraging a worker not to seek employment with the state in the future as part of a...