WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 695

Labor and Employment - Uninsured Employers' Fund Board - Membership and Reserves

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pam Beidle

SB 695 restructures Maryland's Uninsured Employers' Fund Board membership and adjusts financial reserve requirements to strengthen workers' compensation coverage for employees of non-compliant employers.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 309
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 695

Legislative bill overview

SB 695 modifies the governance structure and financial reserves of Maryland's Uninsured Employers' Fund Board, which provides workers' compensation coverage for employees whose employers lack required insurance. The bill adjusts board membership composition and establishes new requirements for how the fund maintains its financial reserves to ensure solvency and adequate coverage.

Why is this important

The Uninsured Employers' Fund serves as a critical safety net for workers whose employers violate mandatory workers' compensation insurance requirements—without it, injured workers would have no recourse for medical expenses or lost wages. These changes affect both the fund's stability and injured workers' ability to recover damages, while also impacting how the state oversees employer compliance with insurance mandates.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry compliance costs: Changes to reserve requirements or board oversight could trigger adjustments to assessment rates on employers, potentially increasing compliance costs for businesses
  • Worker protection adequacy: Stakeholders may disagree on whether reserve level modifications provide sufficient funds to cover all legitimate claims from uninsured worker injuries
  • Board representation: Shifts in board membership could favor either employer interests or worker/claimant advocacy, depending on how composition changes are weighted

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.