Governor Approves PTD Increase

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday signed into law five workers’ compensation bills, including measures that increase permanent disability benefits and simplify how death benefits are calculated. The governor signed into law House Bill 2337, which increases the cap on permanent total disability benefits to 133% of the state’s average weekly wage, from 100%. The bill also sets the minimum PTD award at 33% of the average weekly wage. Also on Wednesday the governor signed House Bill 2338, which eliminates a statute requiring the living arrangements of dependent children be take...