The Kansas House has given preliminary approval to a major rewrite of the state's workers compensation laws. The bill's advance is being attributed to an alliance between the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO. Republican Representative Charlie Roth of Salina acknowleged that the two groups working together is unusual.
Among the changes, the measure increases certain lifetime maximum benefits and gives workers more time to report injuries. For businesses, it works to ensure that a worker's pre-existing injuries are not held against employers. The bill would also limit lengthy workers compensation appeals.