Topic: Watching a good bill and good intentions go south
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Someone originally thought this was a good idea.
It looks like it is turning sour real quick and will negatively affect all but a handful of DC and Maryland residents.
Tell me, if you can, why it is bad now.
If you can, you may learn why bills are so tricky.... and why they are NOT to be taken lightly... and why playing with legislators is NOT advised if you don't know what you are doing... and even if you do!
As Dr. Jones said about state bills (RI), "Educate, Don't Legislate".
BTW- Is anyone watching this bill? How about in other states? Do you know what your legislators are doing to "help" you?
You might want to check?
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission - Workers' Compensation - Lyme Disease Presumption
posted
What is so bad about this bill? It seems to give benefits and retirement options to government workers that previously where not covered. What am I missing??
Posts: 92 | From Virginia | Registered: Jan 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
a lot wrong here .. thanks tc!
copying just the summary here since i can't remember things long... shucks!
ALL CAPS for restrictions of who can/can't, etc!! that's where the problems lay...betty
MC/PG 103-09
FOR the purpose of providing that CERTAIN employees of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
who contract Lyme disease are presumed under certain circumstances,
to have an occupational disease that was suffered and is compensable in a certain manner;
providing that a certain presumption only applies for a certain period of time under certain circumstances; ************************************************************
providing that employees who are ELIGIBLE for benefits under this Act shall receive the benefits in addition to certain retirement benefits,
subject to a CERTAIN ADJUSTMENT; providing for the termination of this Act;
and generally relating to the occupational disease presumption for Lyme disease under the workers' compensation law.
***********
more observations & ALL CAPS for emphasis... ******************************************************
. who is a COVERED employee; later it defines it and it is not good folks!!
. they also deleted all union language of employee groups
. for 3 years after the last date that the park police officer was assigned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to a position that regularly placed the officer in an outdoor wooded environment.
HOW MANY OF YOU REACTED AFTER 3 YRS. OF BEING BITTEN?? many i know when your body was stressed, in a traumatic accident, family death, etc.
THEIR language in ALL CAPS; not mine! betty --------------------------------------------------------
1. FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD BEFORE THE FILING OF THE CLAIM FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION UNDER THIS SECTION, THE EMPLOYEE:
A. HAS NOT BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION AS A SEASONAL OR INTERMITTENT EMPLOYEE; *****************************************************
going back ONE YEAR ONLY; just like our ssdi approvals will go back 1 yr. only. even though our health was worse earlier and you have to prove WHEN this occurred and drs. medical reports must substantiate that!! NOT GOOD.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October 1, 2009.
It shall remain effective for a period of 6 years and, at the end of September 30, 2015, with NO further action required by the General Assembly, this Act shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. *************************************************************
BETTY NOTE: you are covered for 6 yrs. only; not as long as you have lyme and CO-INFECTIONS aren't mentioned.
so SEASONAL EMPLOYEES ARE NOT COVERED AT ALL!
my non-medical input...disappointing.
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Hey double LL...
You said...
"What is so bad about this bill? It seems to give benefits and retirement options to government workers that previously where not covered. What am I missing??"
Actually they were covered already. It was hard to prove sometimes ... but they are covered.
What it does.. and BG did an excellent job picking out many of the problems...
It limits what otherwise we would have a chance to prove if no law was there limiting the circumstances.
It eliminates whole bunches of outdoor workers (see crossed out sections) and as BG pointed out, seasonal employees.. for which there are many and they are the "most" exposed.
It says you need to work a full year mostly outdoors... and they are required to fill out reports on their activities... which sometimes percentage wise - have them indoors a good bit.
Can they PROVE they worked in tick habitat for XX hours per week?
Example-
They can be working ON the water but getting to their vessels and during breaks and getting off the water they are exposed.. but that won't add up to much time outdoors IN the woods/fields/etc.
What if you are bitten in the spring time... 3 months after you start working? With this bill you are NOT covered and you would have been otherwise.
And.. in Maryland/Hopkins/HealthDept/IDSA territory....
You would have to follow the IDSA guidelines.. have not one but TWO positive tests... have a rash and/or a documented tick bite... be treated for 2-4 weeks only... etc.
But the biggest problem from a quick look-see is they have left out so many workers by amending it... and restricted people who would otherwise would have been covered.
Hope that helps... sorry I am tired.. but that should get some thinking?
posted
thank you tincup; do i get my HOT FUDGE SUNDAE NOW PLEASE? boy, that was terrible to copy here as it had all the CROSSED OUT WORDS coming too and they repeated same phrases over and over for this neuro lyme mind!!
i was brain dead after this one!! thank you for your salute to me
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