Nixon inks bill replenishing disabled workers fund

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon has signed legislation intended to replenish an insolvent Missouri fund for disabled workers.

The bill signed Wednesday temporarily doubles the fees charged to businesses in order to finance the Second Injury Fund.

The fund created during World War II compensates disabled workers who suffer additional job-related injuries or illnesses. The intent of the fund is to encourage businesses to hire people with disabilities.

But the fund has run up a multi-million-dollar deficit since lawmakers in 2005 capped the surcharge that businesses pay on workers' compensation premiums to finance it.

The legislation allows that fee to double to 6 percent from 2014 to 2021. It also limits the fund to covering only the most serious work-related disabilities in the future.

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Disability fund bill is SB1.

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov