Summary — HB 6408
Title: AN ACT EXPANDING COMPENSATION TO DEPENDENTS FOR A DEATH RESULTING FROM AN ACCIDENT
Bill Number: HB 6408
Introduced: January 23, 2025
Current status: Tabled for House Calendar (last listed action: 2025-05-06)
Note: The official bill text was not provided. This summary is based on the bill title, subjects, and the legislative action history. Where specific statutory changes are not available, the summary identifies likely areas the bill would affect and notes what information is missing.
Purpose / Intent
The bill’s stated intent (per the title) is to expand the compensation available to dependents when a death results from an accident. Based on the subject tags (workers’ compensation, employees, survivors), the measure appears aimed at modifying death-benefit rules that apply when a worker dies as a result of an accident or occupational injury.
Likely key provisions (based on title and typical legislative practice)
Because the text was not provided, the following are the categories of change this bill is likely to address:
- Expand who qualifies as a “dependent” (for example, adding domestic partners, stepchildren, or other relatives not currently covered).
- Increase the amount or change the formula for death benefits (higher percentage of wage replacement, longer duration, or larger lump-sum payments).
- Modify funeral or burial expense payments (raising caps or changing eligibility).
- Change administrative or evidentiary standards for survivors’ claims (streamlining claim filing, modifying proof requirements, or altering the appeals process).
- Extend coverage to deaths from non‑traditional workplace accidents or clarify coverage scope (e.g., commuting accidents, remote work incidents).
- Make changes retroactive or clarifying effective dates (if included in final text).
Who would be affected
- Primary: Dependents and survivors of workers who die as a result of accidents — potentially receiving higher or broader benefits.
- Employers and insurers: Potential increases in workers’ compensation liabilities and premiums.
- State funds and municipalities: If the state or local governments self-insure, their budgets could be affected.
- Claims administrators, courts, and the Department of Labor/Workers’ Compensation systems: Administrative and caseload impacts depending on program changes.
Procedural and timeline notes (from legislative history)
- Introduced: 2025-01-23; referred to Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees.
- Public hearing reserved and held (public hearing listed 02/27/2025).
- Vote to draft and bill drafted by committee in early March 2025.
- Joint favorable reports from committee: 03/13/2025 and 05/05/2025 noted.
- Referred to Appropriations Committee (03/26/2025); Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis were asked to review (03/21/2025).
- Latest actions: Filed with LCO and reported out; on 2025-05-06 the bill was "TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR." This indicates it is awaiting further floor scheduling or action by the House and that a fiscal review (Appropriations) had been involved.
Fiscal considerations
- The Appropriations referral and OLR/OFA review indicate potential fiscal impacts. Expanding death benefits generally increases short‑term and/or long‑term workers’ compensation expenditures, which can affect insurer premiums, employer costs, and public budgets for self-insured entities. Specific cost estimates would require the bill text and OFA analysis.
Limitations and next steps
- The actual statutory wording, benefit formulas, eligibility criteria, and effective dates are not included in the materials provided. To fully assess impact, review the bill’s text (LCO file) and the Office of Fiscal Analysis report once available.
- Next legislative steps: action by the House (floor consideration) and, if passed, concurrence by the Senate and gubernatorial action. If referred back to Appropriations, the committee may issue fiscal recommendations or changes.
If you would like, I can:
- Monitor for and summarize the bill text when it becomes available (LCO file number), or
- Draft a checklist of specific language to look for in the bill text (definitions of “dependent,” benefit formulas, effective date, fiscal offsets).
