House Bill 443

Chair's Name: Mike Coan

Committee: Industrial Relations

House Sponsor: Mike Coan

HB 443 is the annual Workers� Compensation and Department of Labor code update.

This bill received a Do Pass recommendation from the Industrial Relations Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Structured Rule. 

Chairman Coan�s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

-Allows labor commissioner to set rates for next two years

-Addresses problems of labor office classifying to many subs as employees

-Reauthorization of Reed Act Funds for D.O.L. (1.8+ million dollars)

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

The Governor's office wanted to change the three-step test for designation of employees vs. sub contractor and language was added to accomplish this. Also, this postpones the current sunset provision, which is required or a 75% surcharge kicks in on every business in GA.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Reduces the Tax Burden on our Citizens:

Keeps our U.I. system solvent and able to pay out claims to those who lose their job due to no fault of their own.

• Other:

The commissioner used last years rates to give a $50 million tax break to GA businesses and this bill may lead to another.