The bill would create a fund to reimburse eligible oil and gas workers and certain family members for medical expenses linked to asthma, heat-related illness, and certain other diseases. It would also establish a commission to recommend ways to study and improve oil and gas workers’ health.
A worker could qualify if they worked for an oil company or its contractor and either worked at an oil or gas site or lived within 20 miles of one for at least a year. A worker’s spouse, child, or parent could also qualify if they lived within 20 miles of a site for at least a year. The fund would cover eligible expenses, including copayments and costs not covered by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. Claims would be paid in the order received.
Oil and gas companies with annual revenue over $50 million would have to pay into the fund each year an amount equal to the total compensation paid to their 10 highest-paid employees. Companies could make additional contributions, up to that same amount. The bill adds a penalty for certain underpayments and bars tax deductions for required payments and certain contributions. No publicly available information gives the expected total costs or compensation amounts.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.