Current State of Workers’ Compensation in the State of Texas

S​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍​tudents will need to write an approximate 12 to 15 page research paper on the current state of workers’ compensation in the U.S. state of Texas. The research paper should address the following: • Explanation of the workers’ compensation claims process from the initiation of a claim through the appeals process; • Explanation of the benefits offered to workers’ sustaining a compensable injury/illness; o Amount and method of calculation of temporary total disability (“TTD”) benefits (or however the state refers to temporary total disability); o Duration of TTD Benefits; o Vocational rehabilitation benefits; o Permanent partial disability benefits; o Permanent total disability benefits; and o Death benefits to surviving spouses/estates. • The statutory standard for an injury AND illness to be compensable (ensure you address injury and illness even if the state treats both the same); • Whether the state is a monopolistic, competitive market​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍​, or mix; • Whether the state calculates and administers its own experience rating system, relies on the NCCI, or has some hybrid; • Any methods/practices/programs that employers can participate in to reduce premiums; • How light/modified duty is managed by employers and whether employers may reduce compensation for workers’ on light/modified duty; • Any other unique features, facts or trends about the particular state’s/country’s workers compensation system. This paper should be double spaced, one-inch margins all around, and written according to APA requirements. It is likely that students will obtain most of the information for these papers through state/country government websites, however students can expand their learning of the state’s/country’s workers’ compensation system by also reading non-governmental publications. As such, students must have at least three non-governmental sources for their paper. Students should cite indiv​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍​idual governmental sources accordingly.