I received the following request concerning proposed legislation to end the Second Injury Fund.

"Request is made of the Chairman of the Missouri Bar Workers' Compensation Committee to present to the Executive Committee a request that the Bar officially and actively (and immediately) oppose House Bill 685 and the abolition of the Second Injury Fund.  The Second Injury Fund is an extremely valuable, valid, and necessary protection for both workers and employers in Missouri, and to abolish it would be against the interests of justice. AND Request the Bar officially to oppose any legislative action regarding the SIF until after the Auditor is able to complete a study of the financial condition of the Fund, the Treasurer has completed her review, Schoemel is final and the best information regarding the financial condition of the Fund is available so the degree of change in funding or benefits can be better assessed as well as recommendations or alternative approaches can be made and evaluated."

Personally, I agree with this resolution.  Until more is known about the financial status of the Fund and how much it spends on particular types of cases, any legislative proposals are premature.  I have made my thoughts known, but I need input from the rest of the Bar before I send a request to the Board of Governors.  Please feel free to contact me by phone at (573) 388-2222 or by email at michael_moroni1126@yahoo.com.

Michael Moroni, Chair
The Missouri Bar Workers' Compensation Committee