Legislature Passes Bill to Expedite Hearings on Safety Rule Violation Reductions

The Colorado legislature has passed a bill that would require employers to state the specific facts that justify a reduction in benefits based on a claimant's violation of a safety rule and allow parties to request an expedited hearing on those benefit reductions. The House of Representatives voted 65-0 to pass Senate Bill 16-217 by Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs, on Thursday, which was the last day of the 2016 legislative session. The Senate voted 35-0 to approve the measure on Monday. Under Colorado Revised Statute Section 8-42-112, employers are allowed to reduce benefits...