IL lawmakers Meeting On Sunday; Senate Approved Workers’ Comp Reform Saturday

Illinois lawmakers were scheduled to be back at work Sunday afternoon, as they continue a rare holiday weekend session.

The Illinois House was scheduled to return to the floor at 4 p.m. Sunday. The Senate was set to be back at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, the Senate approved a plan to overhaul workers' compensation to cut business costs and curb corruption.

The measure now heads to the House. It would slash payments to doctors and hospitals that care for injured workers. It would tighten reviews that determine an injury's severity and cost, as well as cap awards for the increasingly common claim of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Those changes are meant to cut the $3 billion workers' comp system by up to $700 million a year, or more than 20 percent.

The legislation passed 46-8, with 2 voting present.

Among east-central Illinois lawmakers, Senators Mike Frerichs (D-Champaign), Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) and Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) voted in favor of the measure. Senator Shane Cultra (R-Onarga) voted against it. Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) did not vote.