The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule to implement the HAVANA Act of 2021, which allows for payments to be made to current and former employees, as well as their dependents, who have suffered certain brain injuries. The rule maintains the criteria for a qualifying injury as outlined in a previous interim rule, requiring either permanent brain function changes or a medical diagnosis requiring extended treatment. The regulation includes procedures for submitting claims and emphasizes consistency with existing State Department standards. Additionally, the Department addressed public comments, clarifying that it cannot extend compensation to injuries before January 1, 2016, and explaining the reasoning behind the criteria for qualifying injuries.
Simple Explanation
The Commerce Department has made a new rule that lets certain workers or their families get money if they hurt their brains while working, but only if the injury happened after 2016.