GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 703
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Short Title: Update 1987 Rates/Organs and Disfigurement. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senators Britt, B. Newton, and Daniel (Primary Sponsors). |
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Referred to: |
Rules and Operations of the Senate |
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March 26, 2025
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending the workers' compensation act to increase certain benefits under the schedule of injuries and to provide for automatic benefit adjustments based upon increases in the consumer price index.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Effective July 1, 2026, G.S. 97‑29 reads as rewritten:
"§ 97‑29. Rates and duration of compensation for total incapacity.
(a) When an employee
qualifies for total disability, the employer shall pay or cause to be paid, as
hereinafter provided by subsections (b) through (d) of this section, to the
injured employee a weekly compensation equal to sixty‑six and two‑thirds
percent (66 2/3%) of his average weekly wages, but not more than the amount
established annually to be effective January 1 as provided herein, nor less
than thirty dollars ($30.00) fifty dollars ($50.00) per week.
Beginning July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the North Carolina Industrial
Commission shall raise the maximum compensation herein in accordance with the
percentage change in the June Consumer Price Index computed by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics and the June Consumer Price Index for the prior year, provided
that this percentage change is positive. The adjustment shall be rounded to the
nearest dollar ($1.00)."
SECTION 2. Effective July 1, 2026, G.S. 97‑31 reads as rewritten:
"§ 97‑31. Schedule of injuries; rate and period of compensation.
In cases included by the following schedule the compensation in each case shall be paid for disability during the healing period and in addition the disability shall be deemed to continue for the period specified, and shall be in lieu of all other compensation, including disfigurement, to wit:
…
(21) In case of serious facial
or head disfigurement, the Industrial Commission shall award proper and
equitable compensation not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). Fifty‑six
thousand dollars ($56,000). In case of enucleation where an artificial eye
cannot be fitted and used, the Industrial Commission may award compensation as
for serious facial disfigurement. Beginning July 1, 2026, and annually
thereafter, the North Carolina Industrial Commission shall raise the maximum
compensation herein in accordance with the percentage change in the June
Consumer Price Index computed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the June
Consumer Price Index for the prior year, provided that this percentage change
is positive. The adjustment shall be rounded to the nearest dollar ($1.00).
(22) In case of serious bodily
disfigurement for which no compensation is payable under any other subdivision
of this section, but excluding the disfigurement resulting from permanent loss
or permanent partial loss of use of any member of the body for which
compensation is fixed in the schedule contained in this section, the Industrial
Commission may award proper and equitable compensation not to exceed ten
thousand dollars ($10,000).twenty‑eight thousand dollars
($28,000). Beginning July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the North Carolina
Industrial Commission shall raise the maximum compensation herein in accordance
with the percentage change in the June Consumer Price Index computed by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and the June Consumer Price Index for the prior
year, provided that this percentage change is positive. The adjustment shall be
rounded to the nearest dollar ($1.00).
(24) In case of the loss of or
permanent injury to any important external or internal organ or part of the
body for which no compensation is payable under any other subdivision of this
section, the Industrial Commission may award proper and equitable compensation
not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).fifty‑six
thousand dollars ($56,000). Beginning July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter,
the North Carolina Industrial Commission shall raise the maximum compensation
herein in accordance with the percentage change in the June Consumer Price
Index computed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the June Consumer Price
Index for the prior year, provided that this percentage change is positive. The
adjustment shall be rounded to the nearest dollar ($1.00)."
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.