The North Carolina House of Representatives has approved changes to rules governing workers’ compensation claims.

The House chamber voted Tuesday in support of a consensus bill whose chief sponsor said came together after weeks of negotiations with groups representing employers, employees and the state. Rep. Dale Folwell of Winston-Salem said the agreement will protect workers, compensate the injured and encourage people to return to work.

The bill caps temporary payments for a totally disabled worker at nearly 10 years. The current law has no cap, which Folwell said places North Carolina at a competitive disadvantage. The bill also raises the maximum time for wage benefits for the partially disabled and for death benefits. The measure also offers new language regarding records needed to review an injured worker’s claim.

The legislation, titled the Protect and Put North Carolina Back to Work bill (HB 709), would place a 500-week cap on temporary total disability benefits and increase the cap on temporary partial disability benefits from 300 weeks to 500 weeks.

If the state Senate follows the House, the legislation would be the first major workers’ compensation reform in North Carolina since 1994.

The Winfred C. Harper Agency has provided NC workers compensation to business clients for over 60 years.  The Harper Agency also provides other business insurance including NC day care insurance as well as NC auto insurance and NC homeowners insurance.