Bill To Help Disabled Seasonal Workers Ok’d

The Idaho House has unanimously approved Gov. Phil Batt’s effort to help disabled seasonal workers.

Rep. W.W. “Bill” Deal told lawmakers Batt wants a new law granting disabled seasonal workers a minimum payment of $66.45 per week no matter what their work history or salary level. The House went along, voting 70-0 to send the bill to the Senate.

Deal said Batt started pushing the concept after reading newspaper accounts saying that injured seasonal workers could receive as little as $11 per week if injured at a low-paying job with little or no work history.

Deal said a full-time worker making the same $6 per hour as a seasonal worker would be eligible for about $119 per week, based on work history.