AIA Tells Maine Legislators to Protect Workers’ Comp Reforms

The American Insurance Association (AIA) testified before Maine legislators Wednesday, urging them to reject a number of bills that would increase the cost of workers’ compensation for Maine employers.

“Now is not the time to turn the clock back 15 years to when the Maine workers’ compensation system was in crisis,” said Bruce Gerrity, AIA’s local counsel in Maine at a public hearing of the Joint Labor Committee. “These bills would increase costs, politicize the Workers’ Compensation Board and generate more attorney involvement in workers’ compensation cases. All of these would be bad for the state’s employers and its economy.”

“AIA supports a workers’ compensation system that provides efficient service to workers and employers. The bills before the state legislature would add unnecessary costs and friction to that system,” added Paul Moran, AIA vice president, northeast region.

Among the proposals AIA opposes is an increase in the budget for the Workers’ Compensation Board.

“With the state facing a $1 billion budget deficit, this is not the time to be increasing the Board’s budget,” said Gerrity.

AIA is opposing the following bills: LD 10, LD 56, LD 101, LD 339, LD 398, LD 510, LD 550, LD 575, LD 658 and LD 935.