SS/SB 996 - This act modifies provisions relating to workers' compensation. CHANGES OF ATTORNEYS IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION CASES (Sections 287.200 and 287.470) The act permits the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission to change the name, information, or fee arrangement of the attorney or law firm representing a claimant upon the filing of a written agreement, signed by both the claimant and his or her attorney and the new attorney, with the Commission. QUALIFICATIONS, COMPLAINTS, DISCIPLINE, AND REMOVAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES (Sections 287.610 and 621.045) The act provides that all administrative law judges (ALJs) shall retire from being an ALJ at 70 years old. Furthermore, ALJs are exempted from the employee at-will doctrine. Current law requires that a retention vote be taken by the Administrative Law Judge Review Committee with respect to each workers' compensation ALJ every twelve years. This act provides that such retention vote shall occur, beginning August 28, 2026, every four years and any ALJ who receives a vote not in favor of retention by a majority of the Committee shall be immediately terminated as an ALJ. This acts also repeals provisions of current law relating to performance audits of ALJs and recommendations of confidence and no confidence. The act permits the Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation to file a complaint with the Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC) seeking to remove an ALJ from office for one or any combination of the following causes: • The ALJ has committed any felony or misdemeanor, regardless of whether a criminal charge has been filed; • The ALJ has been convicted, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state, the United States, or of any country, regardless of whether sentence is imposed; • The ALJ is guilty of misconduct, habitual intoxication, willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, or incompetency; or • The ALJ has committed any act that involves moral turpitude or oppression in office. Prior to filing a complaint, the Director shall notify the ALJ in writing of the reasons for the complaint. Special provisions are included if the reason for the complaint is willful neglect of duty or incompetency. Upon a finding by the AHC that the grounds for disciplinary action are met, the Director may, singly or in combination, issue the disciplinary actions against the ALJ, as provided in the act, including removal or suspension from office. Upon a finding that there are no grounds for disciplinary action, the ALJ shall immediately resume duties and shall receive any attorney's fees due under current law. An ALJ may be suspended without pay, without notice, at the discretion of the Director if: • The ALJ commits a crime for which the ALJ is being held without bond for a period of more than 14 days; • The ALJ's license to practice law has been suspended or revoked; or • A declaration of incapacity by a court of competent jurisdiction has been made with respect to the ALJ. PAYMENT AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES (Sections 287.615, 287.812, and 287.835) The act provides that the compensation for ALJs and chief administrative law judges shall be determined solely by the rate outlined in law and shall not increase when pay raises for executive employees are appropriated. The salary premium for chief ALJs is increased from $5,000 to $10,000. The act furthermore repeals reference to the position of Chief Legal Counsel. The act repeals a prohibition on the payment of any retirement benefits under workers' compensation law to any administrative law judge who has been removed from office by impeachment or for misconduct, or to any person who has been disbarred from the practice of law, or to the beneficiary of any such persons. These provisions are substantially similar to SB 667 (2025), HCS/HB 83 (2025), HCS/HB 123 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 176 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 615 (2025), SCS/SB 1390 (2024) and certain provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 2064 & HCS#2/HB 1886 (2024) and similar to HB 2194 (2024). REMOTE HEARINGS (Section 287.640) This act allows the Division of Workers' Compensation or any administrative law judge acting through the Division to hold any hearing by electronic means, allowing the parties, attorneys, and judges to be remote. SURCHARGE RATES (Section 287.690) Current law allows the Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation to impose taxes or surcharges for different purposes relating to the administration of workers' compensation, with such tax rate being rounded up to the nearest one-half of a percentage point. This act requires the tax or surcharge rates to instead be rounded up to the nearest one-tenth of a percentage point. This provision is identical to SB 932 (2026). SCOTT SVAGERA