Workers' compensation: key legislation in 1981.

Forty-nine States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia were in legislative session during 1981 .' Deliberations resulted in the introduction of more than 1,500 proposals and enactment of more than 100 laws dealing with workers' compensation . Coverage and benefits were addressed in most of the amendments as in previous years. Numerous administrative changes were also made and medical and rehabilitation services for injured workers were improved . Workers' compensation coverage was revised by new enactments in 19 States . These revisions extended coverage to workers including apprentices or students in work training or educational programs in four jurisdictions and to specified volunteers serving as State employees in emergency situations . Forty-six jurisdictions and the District of Columbia raised their maximum weekly benefit levels for total disability and death either statutorily or according to increases linked to each State's average weekly wage . (See table 1.) Total maximums were increased in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.