Posted on Tue, Aug. 22, 2006

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Senate panel begins workers' comp system overhaul hearings

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The state Senate on Tuesday began what's likely to be weeks of hearings on problems with South Carolina's workers' compensation system.

Gov. Mark Sanford, the state Chamber of Commerce, business leaders and insurers made changing the system a top legislative priority this year.

But few were pleased with a bill that emerged from the House and died when the Legislature adjourned in June.

On Tuesday, a special Senate Judiciary subcommittee started grappling with issues that haven't changed in the past year.

For instance, insurers still want the Legislature to trump Supreme Court decisions they say have hobbled their ability to defend cases and cut costs. And they want South Carolina to dump or scale back the Second Injury Fund, a program set up to help people with disabilities or past workplace injuries return to jobs.

The five-hour hearing Tuesday brought testimony from regulators, the company that tracks data on workers' comp claims and private and public sector insurance interests.

It was "a good start on an overview of a system that is very complex," said panel chairman Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens.

But the panel, as well as opponents and supporters of overhauling the system, will have to reach agreements on what needs to be done, Martin said.

For any type of workers' comp overhaul to make it to the Senate floor for discussion, Martin said, "we've got to build consensus."