03/30/1993 01:00 PM House CRA

  MR. GEORGE indicated there is currently another bill (HB
) which would provide state employee workers'                             
  compensation to volunteers of fire departments not under a                   
  municipality.  He said, "There are fire departments I think,                 
  probably, that do not have workmen's comp insurance, in                      
  violation of the law.  They are subject to criminal                          
  penalties as well as civil penalties...  The law is designed                 
  to punish employers that do not provide the statutorily                      
  required benefits..."                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 354                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON reiterated, "We already believe this                   
  is in the statutes.  It is just that it is not clear...  In                  
  this particular case, all we are really trying to do is to                   
  make very, very clear what has already been embodied in the                  
  law and it does not cost the state anything.  It could                       
  conceivably cost someone who already has workers'                            
  compensation.  It may cost the overall pool to rise very                     
  slightly."