Bill Would Move Comp Court to Judiciary

A Montana lawmaker introduced legislation that would move the Workers' Compensation Court from the executive branch to the judicial branch. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry supervises the Workers' Compensation Court, which has jurisdiction over benefit issues for injuries, disputes involving independent contractor exemptions, and civil penalties for theft of work comp benefits. HB 516, by Rep. Ken Walsh, R-Twin Bridges, would instead task the state Supreme Court with supervising activities of the comp court. The bill would also create a special fund with the state and re...