AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning worker's compensation.

SOURCE: IC 22-3-2-9; (97)CC045207.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 22-3-2-9 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 9. (a) IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 shall not apply to casual laborers (as defined in IC 22-3-6-1 ) nor to farm or agricultural employees, nor to domestic servants, household employees, nor to the employers of such persons.
    (b) An employer who is exempt under this section from the operation of the compensation provisions of this chapter may at any time waive such exemption and thereby accept the provisions of this chapter by giving notice as provided in subsection (c).
    (c) The notice of acceptance referred to in subsection (b) shall be given thirty (30) days prior to any accident resulting in injury or death, provided that if any such injury occurred less than thirty (30) days after the date of employment, notice of acceptance given at the time of employment shall be sufficient notice thereof. The notice shall be in writing or print in a substantial form prescribed by the worker's compensation board and shall be given by the employer by posting the same in a conspicuous place in the plant, shop, office, room, or place where the employee is employed, or by serving it personally upon him; and shall be given by the employee by sending the same in registered letter addressed to the employer at his last known residence or place of business, or by giving it personally to the employer, or any of his agents upon whom a summons in civil actions may be served under the laws of the state.
    (d) A copy of the notice in prescribed form shall also be filed with the worker's compensation board, within five (5) days after its service in such manner upon the employee or employer.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-2-14; (97)CC045207.2. -->     SECTION 2. IC 22-3-2-14 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 14. (a) The state, any political division thereof, any municipal corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or person, contracting for the performance of any work exceeding five hundred one thousand dollars ($500) ($1,000) in value by a contractor subject to the compensation provisions of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 , without exacting from such contractor a certificate from the worker's compensation board showing that such contractor has complied with section 5 of this chapter, IC 22-3-5-1 , and IC 22-3-5-2 , shall be liable to the same extent as the contractor for compensation, physician's fees, hospital fees, nurse's charges, and burial expenses on account of the injury or death of any employee of such contractor, due to an accident arising out of and in the course of the performance of the work covered by such contract.
    (b) Any principal contractor intermediate contractor, or subcontractor, who shall sublet any contract for the performance of any work, to a subcontractor subject to the compensation provisions of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 , without requiring from such subcontractor obtaining a certificate from the worker's compensation board showing that such subcontractor has complied with section 5 of this chapter, IC 22-3-5-1 , and IC 22-3-5-2 , shall be liable to the same extent as such subcontractor for the payment of compensation, physician's fees, hospital fees, nurse's charges, and burial expenses on account of the injury or death of any employee of such subcontractor due to an accident arising out of and in the course of the performance of the work covered by such subcontract.
    (c) The state, any political division thereof, any municipal corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, person, principal or contractor intermediate contractor, or subcontractor, paying compensation, physician's fees, hospital fees, nurse's charges, or burial expenses under this section may recover the amount paid or to be paid from any person who, independently of such provisions, would have been liable for the payment thereof and may, in addition, recover the litigation expenses and attorney's fees incurred in the action before the worker's compensation board as well as the litigation expenses and attorney's fees incurred in an action to collect the compensation, medical expenses, and burial expenses.
    (d) Every claim filed with the worker's compensation board under this section shall be instituted against all parties liable for payment. and said The worker's compensation board, in its an award under subsection (a), shall fix the order in which said parties shall be exhausted, beginning with the immediate employer, and, in an award under subsection (b), shall determine whether the subcontractor has the financial ability to pay the compensation and medical expenses when due and, if not, shall order the contractor to pay the compensation and medical expenses.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-3-4; (97)CC045207.3. -->     SECTION 3. IC 22-3-3-4 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 4. (a) After an injury and prior to an adjudication of permanent impairment, the employer shall furnish or cause to be furnished, free of charge to the employee, an attending physician for the treatment of his injuries, and in addition thereto such surgical, hospital and nursing services and supplies as the attending physician or the worker's compensation board may deem necessary. If the employee is requested or required by the employer to submit to treatment outside the county of employment, the employer shall also pay the reasonable expense of travel, food, and lodging necessary during the travel, but not to exceed the amount paid at the time of the travel by the state to its employees under the state travel policies and procedures established by the department of administration and approved by the state budget agency.
    (b) During the period of temporary total disability resulting from the injury, the employer shall furnish the physician services, and supplies, and the worker's compensation board may, on proper application of either party, require that treatment by the physician and services and supplies be furnished by or on behalf of the employer as the worker's compensation board may deem reasonably necessary.
    (c) After an employee's injury has been adjudicated by agreement or award on the basis of permanent partial impairment and within the statutory period for review in such case as provided in section 27 of this chapter, the employer may continue to furnish a physician or surgeon and other medical services and supplies, and the worker's compensation board may within the statutory period for review as provided in section 27 of this chapter, on a proper application of either party, require that treatment by that physician and other medical services and supplies be furnished by and on behalf of the employer as the worker's compensation board may deem necessary to limit or reduce the amount and extent of the employee's impairment. The refusal of the employee to accept such services and supplies, when provided by or on behalf of the employer, shall bar the employee from all compensation otherwise payable during the period of the refusal, and his right to prosecute any proceeding under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 shall be suspended and abated until the employee's refusal ceases. The employee must be served with a notice setting forth the consequences of the refusal under this section. The notice must be in a form prescribed by the worker's compensation board. No compensation for permanent total impairment, permanent partial impairment, permanent disfigurement, or death shall be paid or payable for that part or portion of the impairment, disfigurement, or death which is the result of the failure of the employee to accept the treatment, services, and supplies required under this section. However, an employer may at any time permit an employee to have treatment for his injuries by spiritual means or prayer in lieu of the physician or surgeon and other medical services and supplies required under this section.
    (d) If, because of an emergency, or because of the employer's failure to provide an attending physician or surgical, hospital, or nursing services and supplies, or treatment by spiritual means or prayer, as required by this section, or because of any other good reason, a physician other than that provided by the employer treats the injured employee during the period of the employee's temporary total disability, or necessary and proper surgical, hospital, or nursing services and supplies are procured within the period, the reasonable cost of those services and supplies shall, subject to the approval of the worker's compensation board, be paid by the employer.
    (e) Regardless of when it occurs, where a compensable injury results in the amputation of an arm, hand, leg, or foot, a body part, the enucleation of an eye, or the loss of natural teeth, or prosthodontics, the employer shall furnish an appropriate artificial member, proper braces, where required, and prosthodontics. The employer shall, when medically required, provide The cost of repairs to or replacements for the artificial members, furnished under this subsection. As used in this subsection, "medically required" does not include braces, or prosthodontics that result from a compensable injury pursuant to a prior award and are required due to either medical necessity or normal wear and tear, determined according to the employee's individual use, but not abuse, of the artificial member, braces, or prosthodontics, shall be paid from the second injury fund upon order or award of the worker's compensation board. The employee is not required to meet any other requirement for admission to the second injury fund.
     (f) If an accident arising out of and in the course of employment after June 30, 1997, results in the loss of or damage to an artificial member, a brace, an implant, eyeglasses, prosthodontics, or other medically prescribed device, the employer shall repair the artificial member, brace, implant, eyeglasses, prosthodontics, or other medically prescribed device or furnish an identical or a reasonably equivalent replacement.
    (f) (g) This section may not be construed to prohibit an agreement between an employer and the employer's employees that has the approval of the board and that binds the parties to:
        (1) medical care furnished by health care providers selected by agreement before or after injury; or
        (2) the findings of a health care provider who was chosen by agreement.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-3-5; (97)CC045207.4. -->         SECTION 4. IC 22-3-3-5 , AS AMENDED BY P.L.216-1995, SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 5. The pecuniary liability of the employer for medical, surgical, hospital and nurse service herein required shall be limited to such charges as prevail as provided under IC 22-3-6-1 (j), in the same community for (as defined in IC 22-3-6-1 (h)) for a like service or product to injured persons. The employee and the employee's estate do not have liability to a health care provider for payment for services obtained under IC 22-3-3-4. The right to order payment for all services provided under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 is solely with the board. All claims by a health care provider for payment for services are against the employer and the employer's insurance carrier, if any, and must be made with the board under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6. The worker's compensation board may withhold the approval of the fees of the attending physician in a case until the attending physician files a report with the worker's compensation board on the form prescribed by the board.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-3-7; (97)CC045207.5. -->     SECTION 5. IC 22-3-3-7 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 7. (a) Compensation shall be allowed on account of injuries producing only temporary total disability to work or temporary partial disability to work beginning with the eighth (8th) day of such disability except for medical benefits provided in section 4 of the chapter. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only if the disability continues for longer than twenty-one (21) days.
    (b) The first weekly installment of compensation for temporary disability is due fourteen (14) days after the disability begins. Not later than fifteen (15) days from the date that the first installment of compensation is due, the employer or the employer's insurance carrier shall tender to the employee or to the employee's dependents, with all compensation due, a properly prepared compensation agreement in a form prescribed by the board. If the employer denies liability, the employer must inform the board and the employee or the dependents of the employee of the denial. Notice of denial must be made in writing, in a form prescribed by the board, and mailed not later than twenty-nine (29) Whenever an employer or the employer's insurance carrier denies or is not able to determine liability to pay compensation or benefits, the employer or the employer's insurance carrier shall notify the worker's compensation board and the employee in writing on a form prescribed by the worker's compensation board not later than thirty (30) days after the employer's knowledge of the claimed injury. If a determination of liability cannot be made within thirty (30) days, the worker's compensation board may approve an additional thirty (30) days upon a written request of the employer or the employer's insurance carrier that sets forth the reasons that the determination could not be made within thirty (30) days and states the facts or circumstances that are necessary to determine liability within the additional thirty (30) days. More than thirty (30) days of additional time may be approved by the worker's compensation board upon the filing of a petition by the employer or the employer's insurance carrier that sets forth:
        (1) the extraordinary circumstances that have precluded a determination of liability within the initial sixty (60) days;
        (2) the status of the investigation on the date the petition is filed;
        (3) the facts or circumstances that are necessary to make a determination; and
        (4) a timetable for the completion of the remaining investigation.
An employer who fails to comply with this section is subject to a civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50), to be assessed and collected by the board upon notice and hearing. Civil penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the state general fund. The civil penalty may be waived by the board if the employer establishes that a delay of not more than thirty (30) days was caused by an inability to obtain medical information necessary to determine the employer's liability.     (c) Once begun, temporary total disability benefits may not be terminated by the employer unless:
        (1) the employee has returned to any employment;
        (2) the employee has died;
        (3) the employee has refused to undergo a medical examination under section 6 of this chapter or has refused to accept suitable employment under section 11 of this chapter;
        (4) the employee has received five hundred (500) weeks of temporary total disability benefits or has been paid the maximum compensation allowed under section 22 of this chapter; or
        (5) the employee is unable or unavailable to work for reasons unrelated to the compensable injury.
In all other cases the employer must notify the employee in writing of the employer's intent to terminate the payment of temporary total disability benefits and of the availability of employment, if any, on a form approved by the board. If the employee disagrees with the proposed termination, the employee must give written notice of disagreement to the board and the employer within seven (7) days after receipt of the notice of intent to terminate benefits. If the board and employer do not receive a notice of disagreement under this section, the employee's temporary total disability benefits shall be terminated. Upon receipt of the notice of disagreement, the board shall immediately contact the parties, which may be by telephone or other means, and attempt to resolve the disagreement. If the board is unable to resolve the disagreement within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice of disagreement, the board shall immediately arrange for an evaluation of the employee by an independent medical examiner. The independent medical examiner shall be selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties are unable to agree, appointed by the board under IC 22-3-4-11. If the independent medical examiner determines that the employee is no longer temporarily disabled or is still temporarily disabled but can return to employment that the employer has made available to the employee, or if the employee fails or refuses to appear for examination by the independent medical examiner, temporary total disability benefits may be terminated. If either party disagrees with the opinion of the independent medical examiner, the party shall apply to the board for a hearing under IC 22-3-4-5.
    (d) An employer is not required to continue the payment of temporary total disability benefits for more than fourteen (14) days after the employer's proposed termination date unless the independent medical examiner determines that the employee is temporarily disabled and unable to return to any employment that the employer has made available to the employee.
    (e) If it is determined that as a result of this section temporary total disability benefits were overpaid, the overpayment shall be deducted from any benefits due the employee under IC 22-3-3-10 section 10 of this chapter and, if there are no benefits due the employee or the benefits due the employee do not equal the amount of the overpayment, the employee shall be responsible for paying any overpayment which cannot be deducted from benefits due the employee.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-3-10; (97)CC045207.6. -->     SECTION 6. IC 22-3-3-10 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 10. (a) With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring prior to April 1, 1951, the employee shall receive in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding twenty-six (26) weeks on account of the injuries, a weekly compensation of fifty-five percent (55%) of the employee's average weekly wages. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after April 1, 1951, and prior to July 1, 1971, the employee shall receive in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding twenty-six (26) weeks on account of the injuries, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1971, and before July 1, 1977, the employee shall receive in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding twenty-six (26) weeks on account of the injuries, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) average weekly wages, for the periods stated for the injuries. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1979, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding twenty-six (26) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of his average weekly wages, not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1979, and before July 1, 1988, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not to exceed fifty-two (52) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1988, and before July 1, 1989, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding seventy-eight (78) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed one hundred sixty-six dollars ($166) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury.
    With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1989, and before July 1, 1990, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding seventy-eight (78) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed one hundred eighty-three dollars ($183) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury.
    With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1990, and before July 1, 1991, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding seventy-eight (78) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury.
        (1) Amputation: For the loss by separation of the thumb, sixty (60) weeks, of the index finger forty (40) weeks, of the second finger thirty-five (35) weeks, of the third or ring finger thirty (30) weeks, of the fourth or little finger twenty (20) weeks, of the hand by separation below the elbow joint two hundred (200) weeks, or the arm above the elbow two hundred fifty (250) weeks, of the big toe sixty (60) weeks, of the second toe thirty (30) weeks, of the third toe twenty (20) weeks, of the fourth toe fifteen (15) weeks, of the fifth or little toe ten (10) weeks, and for loss occurring before April 1, 1959, by separation of the foot below the knee joint one hundred fifty (150) weeks and of the leg above the knee joint two hundred (200) weeks; for loss occurring on and after April 1, 1959, by separation of the foot below the knee joint, one hundred seventy-five (175) weeks and of the leg above the knee joint two hundred twenty-five (225) weeks. The loss of more than one (1) phalange of a thumb or toes shall be considered as the loss of the entire thumb or toe. The loss of more than two (2) phalanges of a finger shall be considered as the loss of the entire finger. The loss of not more than one (1) phalange of a thumb or toe shall be considered as the loss of one-half (1/2) of the thumb or toe and compensation shall be paid for one-half (1/2) of the period for the loss of the entire thumb or toe. The loss of not more than one (1) phalange of a finger shall be considered as the loss of one-third (1/3) of the finger and compensation shall be paid for one-third (1/3) the period for the loss of the entire finger. The loss of more than one (1) phalange of the finger but not more than two (2) phalanges of the finger, shall be considered as the loss of one-half (1/2) of the finger and compensation shall be paid for one-half (1/2) of the period for the loss of the entire finger.
        (2) For the loss by separation of both hands or both feet or the total sight of both eyes, or any two (2) such losses in the same accident, five hundred (500) weeks.
        (3) For the permanent and complete loss of vision by enucleation or its reduction to one-tenth (1/10) of normal vision with glasses, one hundred seventy-five (175) weeks.
        (4) For the permanent and complete loss of hearing in one (1) ear, seventy-five (75) weeks, and in both ears, two hundred (200) weeks.
        (5) For the loss of one (1) testicle, fifty (50) weeks; for the loss of both testicles, one hundred fifty (150) weeks.
    (b) With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring prior to April 1, 1951, the employee shall receive in lieu of all other compensation on account of the injuries, a weekly compensation of fifty-five percent (55%) of the employee's average weekly wages. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after April 1, 1951, and prior to April 1, 1955, the employee shall receive in lieu of all other compensation on account of the injuries a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after April 1, 1955, and prior to July 1, 1971, the employee shall receive in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding twenty-six (26) weeks on account of the injuries, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1971, and before July 1, 1977, the employee shall receive in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding twenty-six (26) weeks on account of the injuries, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) average weekly wages, for the period stated for such injuries respectively. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1979, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding twenty-six (26) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1979, and before July 1, 1988, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding fifty-two (52) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) average weekly wages for the period stated for the injury. With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1988, and before July 1, 1989, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding seventy-eight (78) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed one hundred sixty-six dollars ($166) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury.
    With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1989, and before July 1, 1990, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding seventy-eight (78) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed one hundred eighty-three dollars ($183) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury.
    With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1990, and before July 1, 1991, the employee shall receive, in addition to temporary total disability benefits not exceeding seventy-eight (78) weeks on account of the injury, a weekly compensation of sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) average weekly wages, for the period stated for the injury.
        (1) Loss of use: The total permanent loss of the use of an arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange shall be considered as the equivalent of the loss by separation of the arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange, and compensation shall be paid for the same period as for the loss thereof by separation.
        (2) Partial loss of use: For the permanent partial loss of the use of an arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange, compensation shall be paid for the proportionate loss of the use of such arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange.
        (3) For injuries resulting in total permanent disability, five hundred (500) weeks.
        (4) For any permanent reduction of the sight of an eye less than a total loss as specified in subsection (a)(3), compensation shall be paid for a period proportionate to the degree of such permanent reduction without correction or glasses. However, when such permanent reduction without correction or glasses would result in one hundred percent (100%) loss of vision, but correction or glasses would result in restoration of vision, then in such event compensation shall be paid for fifty percent (50%) of such total loss of vision without glasses, plus an additional amount equal to the proportionate amount of such reduction with glasses, not to exceed an additional fifty percent (50%).
        (5) For any permanent reduction of the hearing of one (1) or both ears, less than the total loss as specified in subsection (a)(4), compensation shall be paid for a period proportional to the degree of such permanent reduction.
        (6) In all other cases of permanent partial impairment, compensation proportionate to the degree of such permanent partial impairment, in the discretion of the worker's compensation board, not exceeding five hundred (500) weeks.
        (7) In all cases of permanent disfigurement which may impair the future usefulness or opportunities of the employee, compensation, in the discretion of the worker's compensation board, not exceeding two hundred (200) weeks, except that no compensation shall be payable under this subdivision where compensation is payable elsewhere in this section.
    (c) With respect to injuries in the following schedule occurring on and after July 1, 1991, the employee shall receive in addition to temporary total disability benefits, not exceeding one hundred twenty-five (125) weeks on account of the injury, compensation in an amount determined under the following schedule to be paid weekly at a rate of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the employee's average weekly wages during the fifty-two (52) weeks immediately preceding the week in which the injury occurred.
        (1) Amputation: For the loss by separation of the thumb, twelve (12) degrees of permanent impairment; of the index finger, eight (8) degrees of permanent impairment; of the second finger, seven (7) degrees of permanent impairment; of the third or ring finger, six (6) degrees of permanent impairment; of the fourth or little finger, four (4) degrees of permanent impairment; of the hand by separation below the elbow joint, forty (40) degrees of permanent impairment; of the arm above the elbow, fifty (50) degrees of permanent impairment; of the big toe, twelve (12) degrees of permanent impairment; of the second toe, six (6) degrees of permanent impairment; of the third toe, four (4) degrees of permanent impairment; of the fourth toe, three (3) degrees of permanent impairment; of the fifth or little toe, two (2) degrees of permanent impairment; by separation of the foot below the knee joint, thirty-five (35) degrees of permanent impairment; and of the leg above the knee joint, forty-five (45) degrees of permanent impairment.
         (2) Amputations occurring on or after July 1, 1997: For the loss by separation of any of the body parts described in subdivision (1) on or after July 1, 1997, the dollar values per degree applying on the date of the injury as described in subsection (d) shall be multiplied by two (2). However, the doubling provision of this subdivision does not apply to a loss of use that is not a loss by separation.
         (3) The loss of more than one (1) phalange of a thumb or toe shall be considered as the loss of the entire thumb or toe. The loss of more than two (2) phalanges of a finger shall be considered as the loss of the entire finger. The loss of not more than one (1) phalange of a thumb or toe shall be considered as the loss of one-half (1/2) of the degrees of permanent impairment for the loss of the entire thumb or toe. The loss of not more than one (1) phalange of a finger shall be considered as the loss of one-third (1/3) of the finger and compensation shall be paid for one-third (1/3) of the degrees payable for the loss of the entire finger. The loss of more than one (1) phalange of the finger but not more than two (2) phalanges of the finger shall be considered as the loss of one-half (1/2) of the finger and compensation shall be paid for one-half (1/2) of the degrees payable for the loss of the entire finger.
        (2) (4) For the loss by separation of both hands or both feet or the total sight of both eyes or any two (2) such losses in the same accident, one hundred (100) degrees of permanent impairment.
        (3) (5) For the permanent and complete loss of vision by enucleation or its reduction to one-tenth (1/10) of normal vision with glasses, thirty-five (35) degrees of permanent impairment.
        (4) (6) For the permanent and complete loss of hearing in one (1) ear, fifteen (15) degrees of permanent impairment, and in both ears, forty (40) degrees of permanent impairment.
        (5) (7) For the loss of one (1) testicle, ten (10) degrees of permanent impairment; for the loss of both testicles, thirty (30) degrees of permanent impairment.         (6) (8) Loss of use: The total permanent loss of the use of an arm, a hand, a thumb, a finger, a leg, a foot, a toe, or a phalange shall be considered as the equivalent of the loss by separation of the arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange, and compensation shall be paid in the same amount as for the loss by separation. However, the doubling provision of subdivision (2) does not apply to a loss of use that is not a loss by separation.
        (7) (9) Partial loss of use: For the permanent partial loss of the use of an arm, a hand, a thumb, a finger, a leg, a foot, a toe, or a phalange, compensation shall be paid for the proportionate loss of the use of the arm, hand, thumb, finger, leg, foot, toe, or phalange.
        (8) (10) For injuries resulting in total permanent disability, the amount payable for impairment or five hundred (500) weeks of compensation, whichever is greater.
        (9) (11) For any permanent reduction of the sight of an eye less than a total loss as specified in subsection (a)(3), the compensation shall be paid in an amount proportionate to the degree of a permanent reduction without correction or glasses. However, when a permanent reduction without correction or glasses would result in one hundred percent (100%) loss of vision, then compensation shall be paid for fifty percent (50%) of the total loss of vision without glasses, plus an additional amount equal to the proportionate amount of the reduction with glasses, not to exceed an additional fifty percent (50%).
        (10) (12) For any permanent reduction of the hearing of one (1) or both ears, less than the total loss as specified in subsection (a)(4), compensation shall be paid in an amount proportionate to the degree of a permanent reduction.
        (11) (13) In all other cases of permanent partial impairment, compensation proportionate to the degree of a permanent partial impairment, in the discretion of the worker's compensation board, not exceeding one hundred (100) degrees of permanent impairment.
        (12) (14) In all cases of permanent disfigurement which may impair the future usefulness or opportunities of the employee, compensation, in the discretion of the worker's compensation board, not exceeding forty (40) degrees of permanent impairment except that no compensation shall be payable under this subdivision where compensation is payable elsewhere in this section.
    (d) Compensation for permanent partial impairment shall be paid according to the degree of permanent impairment for the injury determined under subsection (c) and the following:
        (1) With respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1991, and before July 1, 1992, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to thirty-five (35), five hundred dollars ($500) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), nine hundred dollars ($900) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per degree.
        (2) With respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1992, and before July 1, 1993, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to twenty (20), five hundred dollars ($500) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from twenty-one (21) to thirty-five (35), eight hundred dollars ($800) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), one thousand three hundred dollars ($1,300) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700) per degree.
        (3) With respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1993, and before July 1, 1997, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), five hundred dollars ($500) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to twenty (20), seven hundred dollars ($700) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from twenty-one (21) to thirty-five (35), one thousand dollars ($1,000) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700) per degree.
         (4) With respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1997, and before July 1, 1998, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), one thousand dollars ($1,000) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700) per degree.
         (5) With respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 1999, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), one thousand dollars ($1,000) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700) per degree.
         (6) With respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1999, for each degree of permanent impairment from one (1) to ten (10), nine hundred dollars ($900) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35), one thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment from thirty-six (36) to fifty (50), one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) per degree; for each degree of permanent impairment above fifty (50), two thousand dollars ($2,000) per degree.
    (e) The average weekly wages used in the determination of compensation for permanent partial impairment under subsections (c) and (d) shall not exceed the following:
        (1) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1991, and before July 1, 1992, four hundred ninety-two dollars ($492).
        (2) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1992, and before July 1, 1993, five hundred forty dollars ($540).
        (3) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1993, and before July 1, 1994, five hundred ninety-one dollars ($591).
        (4) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1997, six hundred forty-two dollars ($642).
         (5) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1997, and before July 1, 1998, six hundred seventy-two dollars ($672).
        (6) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 1999, seven hundred two dollars ($702).
        (7) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1999, and before July 1, 2000, seven hundred thirty-two dollars ($732).
        (8) With respect to injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2000, seven hundred sixty-two dollars ($762).
SOURCE: IC 22-3-3-22; (97)CC045207.7. -->     SECTION 7. IC 22-3-3-22 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 22. (a) In computing the compensation under this law with respect to injuries occurring on and after April 1, 1963, and prior to April 1, 1965, the average weekly wages shall be considered to be not more than seventy dollars ($70) nor less than thirty dollars ($30). In computing the compensation under this law with respect to injuries occurring on and after April 1, 1965, and prior to April 1, 1967, the average weekly wages shall be considered to be not more than seventy-five dollars ($75) and not less than thirty dollars ($30). In computing the compensation under this law with respect to injuries occurring on and after April 1, 1967, and prior to April 1, 1969, the average weekly wages shall be considered to be not more than eighty-five dollars ($85) and not less than thirty-five dollars ($35). In computing the compensation under this law with respect to injuries occurring on and after April 1, 1969, and prior to July 1, 1971, the average weekly wages shall be considered to be not more than ninety-five dollars ($95) and not less than thirty-five dollars ($35). In computing the compensation under this law with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1971, and prior to July 1, 1974, the average weekly wages shall be considered to be: (A) Not more than: (1) one hundred dollars ($100) if no dependents; (2) one hundred five dollars ($105) if one (1) dependent; (3) one hundred ten dollars ($110) if two (2) dependents; (4) one hundred fifteen dollars ($115) if three (3) dependents; (5) one hundred twenty dollars ($120) if four (4) dependents; and (6) one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) if five (5) or more dependents; and (B) Not less than thirty-five dollars ($35). In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability under this law with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1974, and before July 1, 1976, the average weekly wages shall be considered to be (A) not more than one hundred thirty-five dollars ($135), and (B) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall in no case exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability and total permanent disability under this law with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1976, and before July 1, 1977, the average weekly wages shall be considered to be (1) not more than one hundred fifty-six dollars ($156) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1979, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than one hundred eighty dollars ($180); and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable may not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1979, and before July 1, 1980, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than one hundred ninety-five dollars ($195), and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1980, and before July 1, 1983, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than two hundred ten dollars ($210), and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1983, and before July 1, 1984, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than two hundred thirty-four dollars ($234) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1984, and before July 1, 1985, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than two hundred forty-nine dollars ($249) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1985, and before July 1, 1986, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than two hundred sixty-seven dollars ($267) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1986, and before July 1, 1988, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than two hundred eighty-five dollars ($285) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury. In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1988, and before July 1, 1989, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than three hundred eighty-four dollars ($384) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.
    In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1989, and before July 1, 1990, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than four hundred eleven dollars ($411) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.
    In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1990, and before July 1, 1991, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than four hundred forty-one dollars ($441) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.
    In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1991, and before July 1, 1992, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than four hundred ninety-two dollars ($492) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.
    In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1992, and before July 1, 1993, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than five hundred forty dollars ($540) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.     In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1993, and before July 1, 1994, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than five hundred ninety-one dollars ($591) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.
    In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1997, the average weekly wages are considered to be (1) not more than six hundred forty-two dollars ($642) and (2) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75). However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.
     (b) In computing compensation for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and total permanent disability, the average weekly wages are considered to be:
        (1) with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1997, and before July 1, 1998:
            (A) not more than six hundred seventy-two dollars ($672); and
            (B) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75);
        (2) with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 1999:
            (A) not more than seven hundred two dollars ($702); and
            (B) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75);
        (3) with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1999, and before July 1, 2000:
            (A) not more than seven hundred thirty-two dollars ($732); and
            (B) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75); and
        (4) with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 2000:
            (A) not more than seven hundred sixty-two dollars ($762); and
            (B) not less than seventy-five dollars ($75).
However, the weekly compensation payable shall not exceed the average weekly wages of the employee at the time of the injury.
    (c) For the purpose of this section only and with respect to injuries occurring on and after July 1, 1971, and prior to July 1, 1974, only, the term "dependent" as used in this section shall mean persons defined as presumptive dependents under IC 22-3-3-19 , section 19 of this chapter, except that such dependency shall be determined as of the date of the injury to the employee.
    (b) (d) With respect to any injury occurring on and after April 1, 1955, and prior to April 1, 1957, the maximum compensation exclusive of medical benefits, which shall be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or under any combination of its provisions shall not exceed twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after April 1, 1957 and prior to April 1, 1963, the maximum compensation exclusive of medical benefits, which shall be paid for an injury under any provision of this law or under any combination of its provisions shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after April 1, 1963, and prior to April 1, 1965, the maximum compensation exclusive of medical benefits, which shall be paid for an injury under any provision of this law or under any combination of its provisions shall not exceed sixteen thousand five hundred dollars ($16,500) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after April 1, 1965, and prior to April 1, 1967, the maximum compensation exclusive of medical benefits which shall be paid for any injury under any provision of this law or any combination of provisions shall not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after April 1, 1967, and prior to July 1, 1971, the maximum compensation exclusive of medical benefits which shall be paid for an injury under any provision of this law or any combination of provisions shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1971, and prior to July 1, 1974, the maximum compensation exclusive of medical benefits which shall be paid for any injury under any provision of this law or any combination of provisions shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1974, and before July 1, 1976, the maximum compensation exclusive of medical benefits which shall be paid for an injury under any provision of this law or any combination of provisions shall not exceed forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) in any case. With respect to an injury occurring on and after July 1, 1976, and before July 1, 1977, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which shall be paid for any injury under any provision of this law or any combination of provisions shall not exceed fifty-two thousand dollars ($52,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1979, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provision of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1979, and before July 1, 1980, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1980, and before July 1, 1983, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed seventy thousand dollars ($70,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1983, and before July 1, 1984, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed seventy-eight thousand dollars ($78,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1984, and before July 1, 1985, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed eighty-three thousand dollars ($83,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1985, and before July 1, 1986, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed eighty-nine thousand dollars ($89,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1986, and before July 1, 1988, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed ninety-five thousand dollars ($95,000) in any case. With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1988, and before July 1, 1989, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed one hundred twenty-eight thousand dollars ($128,000) in any case.
    With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1989, and before July 1, 1990, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed one hundred thirty-seven thousand dollars ($137,000) in any case.
    With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1990, and before July 1, 1991, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed one hundred forty-seven thousand dollars ($147,000) in any case.
    With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1991, and before July 1, 1992, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, that may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed one hundred sixty-four thousand dollars ($164,000) in any case.
    With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1992, and before July 1, 1993, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, that may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed one hundred eighty thousand dollars ($180,000) in any case.
    With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1993, and before July 1, 1994, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, that may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed one hundred ninety-seven thousand dollars ($197,000) in any case.
    With respect to any injury occurring on and after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1997, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, which may be paid for an injury under any provisions of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed two hundred fourteen thousand dollars ($214,000) in any case.
     (e) The maximum compensation, exclusive of medical benefits, that may be paid for an injury under any provision of this law or any combination of provisions may not exceed the following amounts in any case:
        (1) With respect to an injury occurring on and after July 1, 1997, and before July 1, 1998, two hundred twenty-four thousand dollars ($224,000).
        (2) With respect to an injury occurring on and after July 1, 1998, and before July 1, 1999, two hundred thirty-four thousand dollars ($234,000).
        (3) With respect to an injury occurring on and after July 1, 1999, and before July 1, 2000, two hundred forty-four thousand dollars ($244,000).
        (4) With respect to an injury occurring on and after July 1, 2000, two hundred fifty-four thousand dollars ($254,000).
SOURCE: IC 22-3-3-32. -->     SECTION 8. IC 22-3-3-32 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 32. The provisions of this article may not be construed to result in an award of benefits in which the number of weeks paid and to be paid for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, or permanent total disability combined exceeds five hundred (500) weeks. This section shall not be construed to prevent a person who is permanently totally disabled from applying for an award under IC 22-3-3-13. However, in case of permanent total disability resulting from an injury occurring on or after January 1, 1998, the minimum total benefit shall not be less than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000).
SOURCE: IC 22-3-4-7; (97)CC045207.9. -->     SECTION 9. IC 22-3-4-7 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 7. If an application for review is made to the board within twenty (20) thirty (30) days from the date of the award made by less than all the members, the full board, if the first hearing was not held before the full board, shall review the evidence, or, if deemed advisable, hear the parties at issue, their representatives, and witnesses as soon as practicable and shall make an award and file the same with the finding of the facts on which it is based and send a copy thereof to each of the parties in dispute, in like manner as specified in section 6 of this chapter.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-4-12; (97)CC045207.10. -->     SECTION 10. IC 22-3-4-12 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 12. Except as provided in section 12.1 of this chapter, the fees of attorneys and physicians and charges of nurses and hospitals for services under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 shall be subject to the approval of the industrial board. When any claimant for compensation is represented by an attorney in the prosecution of his claim, the industrial board shall fix and state in the award, if compensation be awarded, the amount of the claimant's attorney's fees. The fee so fixed shall be binding upon both the claimant and his attorney, and the employer shall pay to the attorney out of the award the fee so fixed, and the receipt of the attorney therefor shall fully acquit the employer for an equal portion of the award; provided, that whenever the industrial board shall determine upon hearing of a claim that the employer has acted in bad faith in adjusting and settling said award, or whenever the industrial board shall determine upon hearing of a claim that the employer has not pursued the settlement of said claim with diligence, then the board shall, if compensation be awarded, fix the amount of the claimant's attorney's fees and such attorney fees shall be paid to the attorney and shall not be charged against the award to the claimant. It is further provided that such fees as are fixed and awarded on account of a lack of diligence or because of bad faith on the part of the employer shall not be less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150). The industrial board may withhold the approval of the fees of the attending physician in any case until he shall file a report with the industrial board on the form prescribed by such board.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-4-12.1; (97)CC045207.11. -->     SECTION 11. IC 22-3-4-12.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 12.1. (a) The worker's compensation board, upon hearing a claim for benefits, has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether the employer, the employer's worker's compensation administrator, or the worker's compensation insurance carrier has acted with a lack of diligence, in bad faith, or has committed an independent tort in adjusting or settling the claim for compensation.
    (b) If lack of diligence, bad faith, or an independent tort is proven under subsection (a), the award to the claimant shall be at least five hundred dollars ($500), but not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), depending upon the degree of culpability and the actual damages sustained.
    (c) An award under this section shall be paid by the employer, worker's compensation administrator, or worker's compensation insurance carrier responsible to the claimant for the lack of diligence, bad faith, or independent tort.
    (d) The worker's compensation board shall fix in addition to any award under this section the amount of attorney's fees payable with respect to an award made under this section. The attorney's fees may not exceed thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the amount of the award.
     (e) If the worker's compensation board makes an award under this section, it shall reduce the award to writing and forward a copy to the department of insurance for review under IC 27-4-1-4.5.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-6-1; (97)CC045207.12. -->     SECTION 12. IC 22-3-6-1 , AS AMENDED BY P.L.2-1996, SECTION 265, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 1. In IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 , unless the context otherwise requires:
    (a) "Employer" includes the state and any political subdivision, any municipal corporation within the state, any individual or the legal representative of a deceased individual, firm, association, limited liability company, or corporation or the receiver or trustee of the same, or the legal representatives of a deceased person, using the services of another for pay. If the employer is insured, the term includes the employer's insurer so far as applicable. However, the inclusion of an employer's insurer within this definition does not allow an employer's insurer to avoid payment for services rendered to an employee with the approval of the employer.
    (b) "Employee" means every person, including a minor, in the service of another, under any contract of hire or apprenticeship, written or implied, except one whose employment is both casual and not in the usual course of the trade, business, occupation, or profession of the employer.
        (1) An executive officer elected or appointed and empowered in accordance with the charter and bylaws of a corporation, other than a municipal corporation or governmental subdivision or a charitable, religious, educational, or other nonprofit corporation, is an employee of the corporation under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6.
        (2) An executive officer of a municipal corporation or other governmental subdivision or of a charitable, religious, educational, or other nonprofit corporation may, notwithstanding any other provision of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 , be brought within the coverage of its insurance contract by the corporation by specifically including the executive officer in the contract of insurance. The election to bring the executive officer within the coverage shall continue for the period the contract of insurance is in effect, and during this period, the executive officers thus brought within the coverage of the insurance contract are employees of the corporation under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6.
        (3) Any reference to an employee who has been injured, when the employee is dead, also includes the employee's legal representatives, dependents, and other persons to whom compensation may be payable.
        (4) An owner of a sole proprietorship may elect to include the owner as an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 if the owner is actually engaged in the proprietorship business. If the owner makes this election, the owner must serve upon the owner's insurance carrier and upon the board written notice of the election. No owner of a sole proprietorship may be considered an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 until the notice has been received. If the owner of a sole proprietorship is an independent contractor in the construction trades and does not make the election provided under this subdivision, the owner must obtain an affidavit of exemption under IC 22-3-2-14.5.
        (5) A partner in a partnership may elect to include the partner as an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 if the partner is actually engaged in the partnership business. If a partner makes this election, the partner must serve upon the partner's insurance carrier and upon the board written notice of the election. No partner may be considered an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 until the notice has been received. If a partner in a partnership is an independent contractor in the construction trades and does not make the election provided under this subdivision, the partner must obtain an affidavit of exemption under IC 22-3-2-14.5.
        (6) Real estate professionals are not employees under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 if:
            (A) they are licensed real estate agents;
            (B) substantially all their remuneration is directly related to sales volume and not the number of hours worked; and
            (C) they have written agreements with real estate brokers stating that they are not to be treated as employees for tax purposes.
        (7) A person is an independent contractor in the construction trades and not an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 if the person is an independent contractor under the guidelines of the United States Internal Revenue Service.
        (8) An owner-operator that provides a motor vehicle and the services of a driver under a written contract that is subject to IC 8-2.1-24-23 , 45 IAC 16-1-13, or 49 CFR 1057, to a motor carrier is not an employee of the motor carrier for purposes of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6. The owner-operator may elect to be covered and have the owner-operator's drivers covered under a worker's compensation insurance policy or authorized self-insurance that insures the motor carrier if the owner-operator pays the premiums as requested by the motor carrier. An election by an owner-operator under this subdivision does not terminate the independent contractor status of the owner-operator for any purpose other than the purpose of this subdivision.
        (9) A member or manager in a limited liability company may elect to include the member or manager as an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 if the member or manager is actually engaged in the limited liability company business. If a member or manager makes this election, the member or manager must serve upon the member's or manager's insurance carrier and upon the board written notice of the election. A member or manager may not be considered an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 until the notice has been received.
    (c) "Minor" means an individual who has not reached seventeen (17) years of age.         (1) Unless otherwise provided in this subsection, a minor employee shall be considered as being of full age for all purposes of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6.
        (2) If the employee is a minor who, at the time of the accident, is employed, required, suffered, or permitted to work in violation of IC 20-8.1-4-25 , the amount of compensation and death benefits, as provided in IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 , shall be double the amount which would otherwise be recoverable. The insurance carrier shall be liable on its policy for one-half (1/2) of the compensation or benefits that may be payable on account of the injury or death of the minor, and the employer shall be liable for the other one-half (1/2) of the compensation or benefits. If the employee is a minor who is not less than sixteen (16) years of age and who has not reached seventeen (17) years of age and who at the time of the accident is employed, suffered, or permitted to work at any occupation which is not prohibited by law, this subdivision does not apply.
        (3) A minor employee who, at the time of the accident, is a student performing services for an employer as part of an approved program under IC 20-10.1-6-7 shall be considered a full-time employee for the purpose of computing compensation for permanent impairment under IC 22-3-3-10. The average weekly wages for such a student shall be calculated as provided in subsection (d)(4).
        (4) The rights and remedies granted in this subsection to a minor under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 on account of personal injury or death by accident shall exclude all rights and remedies of the minor, the minor's parents, or the minor's personal representatives, dependents, or next of kin at common law, statutory or otherwise, on account of the injury or death. This subsection does not apply to minors who have reached seventeen (17) years of age.
    (d) "Average weekly wages" means the earnings of the injured employee in the employment in which the employee was working at the time of the injury during the period of fifty-two (52) weeks immediately preceding the date of injury, divided by fifty-two (52), except as follows:
        (1) If the injured employee lost seven (7) or more calendar days during this period, although not in the same week, then the earnings for the remainder of the fifty-two (52) weeks shall be divided by the number of weeks and parts thereof remaining after the time lost has been deducted.
        (2) Where the employment prior to the injury extended over a period of less than fifty-two (52) weeks, the method of dividing the earnings during that period by the number of weeks and parts thereof during which the employee earned wages shall be followed, if results just and fair to both parties will be obtained. Where by reason of the shortness of the time during which the employee has been in the employment of the employee's employer or of the casual nature or terms of the employment it is impracticable to compute the average weekly wages, as defined in this subsection, regard shall be had to the average weekly amount which during the fifty-two (52) weeks previous to the injury was being earned by a person in the same grade employed at the same work by the same employer or, if there is no person so employed, by a person in the same grade employed in the same class of employment in the same district.
        (3) Wherever allowances of any character made to an employee in lieu of wages are a specified part of the wage contract, they shall be deemed a part of his earnings.
        (4) In computing the average weekly wages to be used in calculating an award for permanent impairment under IC 22-3-3-10 for a student employee in an approved training program under IC 20-10.1-6-7 , the following formula shall be used. Calculate the product of:
            (A) the student employee's hourly wage rate; multiplied by
            (B) forty (40) hours.
        The result obtained is the amount of the average weekly wages for the student employee.
    (e) "Injury" and "person "personal injury" mean only injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment and do not include a disease in any form except as it results from the injury.
    (f) "Billing review service" refers to a person or an entity that reviews a medical service provider's bills or statements for the purpose of determining pecuniary liability. The term includes an employer's worker's compensation insurance carrier if the insurance carrier performs such a review.
    (g) "Billing review standard" means the data used by a billing review service to determine pecuniary liability.
    (h) "Community" means a geographic service area based on zip code districts defined by the United States Postal Service according to the following groupings:
        (1) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 463 and 464.
        (2) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 465 and 466.
        (3) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 467 and 468.
        (4) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 469 and 479.
        (5) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 460, 461 (except 46107), and 473.
        (6) The geographic service area served by the 46107 zip code and zip codes with the first three (3) digits 462.
        (7) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 470, 471, 472, 474, and 478.
        (8) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 475, 476, and 477.
    (i) "Medical service provider" refers to a person or an entity that provides medical services, treatment, or supplies to an employee under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6.
    (j) "Pecuniary liability" means the responsibility of an employer or the employer's insurance carrier for the payment of the charges for each specific service or product for human medical treatment provided under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 in a defined community, equal to or less than the charges made by medical service providers at the eightieth percentile in the same community for like services or products.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-7-9; (97)CC045207.13. -->     SECTION 13. IC 22-3-7-9 , AS AMENDED BY P.L.2-1996, SECTION 266, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 9. (a) As used in this chapter, "employer" includes the state and any political subdivision, any municipal corporation within the state, any individual or the legal representative of a deceased individual, firm, association, limited liability company, or corporation or the receiver or trustee of the same, or the legal representatives of a deceased person, using the services of another for pay. If the employer is insured, the term includes his insurer so far as applicable. However, the inclusion of an employer's insurer within this definition does not allow an employer's insurer to avoid payment for services rendered to an employee with the approval of the employer.
    (b) As used in this chapter, "employee" means every person, including a minor, in the service of another, under any contract of hire or apprenticeship written or implied, except one whose employment is both casual and not in the usual course of the trade, business, occupation, or profession of the employer. For purposes of this chapter the following apply:
        (1) Any reference to an employee who has suffered disablement, when the employee is dead, also includes his legal representative, dependents, and other persons to whom compensation may be payable.
        (2) An owner of a sole proprietorship may elect to include himself as an employee under this chapter if he is actually engaged in the proprietorship business. If the owner makes this election, he must serve upon his insurance carrier and upon the board written notice of the election. No owner of a sole proprietorship may be considered an employee under this chapter unless the notice has been received. If the owner of a sole proprietorship is an independent contractor in the construction trades and does not make the election provided under this subdivision, the owner must obtain an affidavit of exemption under IC 22-3-7-34.5.
        (3) A partner in a partnership may elect to include himself as an employee under this chapter if he is actually engaged in the partnership business. If a partner makes this election, he must serve upon his insurance carrier and upon the board written notice of the election. No partner may be considered an employee under this chapter until the notice has been received. If a partner in a partnership is an independent contractor in the construction trades and does not make the election provided under this subdivision, the partner must obtain an affidavit of exemption under IC 22-3-7-34.5.
        (4) Real estate professionals are not employees under this chapter if:
            (A) they are licensed real estate agents;
            (B) substantially all their remuneration is directly related to sales volume and not the number of hours worked; and
            (C) they have written agreements with real estate brokers stating that they are not to be treated as employees for tax purposes.
        (5) A person is an independent contractor in the construction trades and not an employee under this chapter if the person is an independent contractor under the guidelines of the United States Internal Revenue Service.
        (6) An owner-operator that provides a motor vehicle and the services of a driver under a written contract that is subject to IC 8-2.1-24-23 , 45 IAC 16-1-13, or 49 CFR 1057, to a motor carrier is not an employee of the motor carrier for purposes of this chapter. The owner-operator may elect to be covered and have the owner-operator's drivers covered under a worker's compensation insurance policy or authorized self-insurance that insures the motor carrier if the owner-operator pays the premiums as requested by the motor carrier. An election by an owner-operator under this subdivision does not terminate the independent contractor status of the owner-operator for any purpose other than the purpose of this subdivision.
    (c) As used in this chapter, "minor" means an individual who has not reached seventeen (17) years of age. A minor employee shall be considered as being of full age for all purposes of this chapter. However, if the employee is a minor who, at the time of the last exposure, is employed, required, suffered, or permitted to work in violation of the child labor laws of this state, the amount of compensation and death benefits, as provided in this chapter, shall be double the amount which would otherwise be recoverable. The insurance carrier shall be liable on its policy for one-half (1/2) of the compensation or benefits that may be payable on account of the disability or death of the minor, and the employer shall be wholly liable for the other one-half (1/2) of the compensation or benefits. If the employee is a minor who is not less than sixteen (16) years of age and who has not reached seventeen (17) years of age, and who at the time of the last exposure is employed, suffered, or permitted to work at any occupation which is not prohibited by law, the provisions of this subsection prescribing double the amount otherwise recoverable do not apply. The rights and remedies granted to a minor under this chapter on account of disease shall exclude all rights and remedies of the minor, his parents, his personal representatives, dependents, or next of kin at common law, statutory or otherwise, on account of any disease.
    (d) This chapter does not apply to casual laborers as defined in subsection (b), nor to farm or agricultural employees, nor to domestic servants, household employees, nor to railroad employees engaged in train service as engineers, firemen, conductors, brakemen, flagmen, baggagemen, or foremen in charge of yard engines and helpers assigned thereto, nor to their employers with respect to these employees. Also, this chapter does not apply to employees or their employers with respect to employments in which the laws of the United States provide for compensation or liability for injury to the health, disability, or death by reason of diseases suffered by these employees.
    (e) As used in this chapter, "disablement" means the event of becoming disabled from earning full wages at the work in which the employee was engaged when last exposed to the hazards of the occupational disease by the employer from whom he claims compensation or equal wages in other suitable employment, and "disability" means the state of being so incapacitated.
    (f) For the purposes of this chapter, no compensation shall be payable for or on account of any occupational diseases unless disablement, as defined in subsection (e), occurs within two (2) years after the last day of the last exposure to the hazards of the disease except for the following:
        (1) In all cases of occupational diseases caused by the inhalation of silica dust or coal dust, no compensation shall be payable unless disablement, as defined in subsection (e), occurs within three (3) years after the last day of the last exposure to the hazards of the disease.
        (2) In all cases of occupational disease caused by the exposure to radiation, no compensation shall be payable unless disablement, as defined in subsection (e), occurs within two (2) years from the date on which the employee had knowledge of the nature of his occupational disease or, by exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known of the existence of such disease and its causal relationship to his employment.
        (3) In all cases of occupational diseases caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust, no compensation shall be payable unless disablement, as defined in subsection (e), occurs within three (3) years after the last day of the last exposure to the hazards of the disease if the last day of the last exposure was before July 1, 1985.
        (4) In all cases of occupational disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust in which the last date of the last exposure occurs on or after July 1, 1985, and before July 1, 1988, no compensation shall be payable unless disablement, as defined in subsection (e), occurs within twenty (20) years after the last day of the last exposure.
        (5) In all cases of occupational disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust in which the last date of the last exposure occurs on or after July 1, 1988, no compensation shall be payable unless disablement (as defined in subsection (e)) occurs within thirty-five (35) years after the last day of the last exposure.
    (g) For the purposes of this chapter, no compensation shall be payable for or on account of death resulting from any occupational disease unless death occurs within two (2) years after the date of disablement. However, this subsection does not bar compensation for death:
        (1) where death occurs during the pendency of a claim filed by an employee within two (2) years after the date of disablement and which claim has not resulted in a decision or has resulted in a decision which is in process of review or appeal; or
        (2) where, by agreement filed or decision rendered, a compensable period of disability has been fixed and death occurs within two (2) years after the end of such fixed period, but in no event later than three hundred (300) weeks after the date of disablement.
    (h) As used in this chapter, "billing review service" refers to a person or an entity that reviews a medical service provider's bills or statements for the purpose of determining pecuniary liability. The term includes an employer's worker's compensation insurance carrier if the insurance carrier performs such a review.
    (i) As used in this chapter, "billing review standard" means the data used by a billing review service to determine pecuniary liability.
    (j) As used in this chapter, "community" means a geographic service area based on zip code districts defined by the United States Postal Service according to the following groupings:
        (1) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 463 and 464.
        (2) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 465 and 466.
        (3) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 467 and 468.
        (4) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 469 and 479.
        (5) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 460, 461 (except 46107), and 473.
        (6) The geographic service area served by the 46107 zip code and zip codes with the first three (3) digits 462.
        (7) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 470, 471, 472, 474, and 478.
        (8) The geographic service area served by zip codes with the first three (3) digits 475, 476, and 477.
    (k) As used in this chapter, "medical service provider" refers to a person or an entity that provides medical services, treatment, or supplies to an employee under this chapter.
    (l) As used in this chapter, "pecuniary liability" means the responsibility of an employer or the employer's insurance carrier for the payment of the charges for each specific service or product for human medical treatment provided under this chapter in a defined community, equal to or less than the charges made by medical service providers at the eightieth percentile in the same community for like services or products.
SOURCE: IC 22-3-7-16; (97)CC045207.14. -->     SECTION 14. IC 22-3-7-16 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1997]: Sec. 16. (a) Compensation shall be allowed on account of disablement from occupational disease resulting in only temporary total disability to work or temporary partial disability to work beginning with the eighth day of such disability except for the medical benefits provided for in section 17 of this chapter. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only as provided in this section. The first weekly installment of compensation for temporary disability is due fourteen (14) days after the disability begins. Not later than fifteen (15) days from the date that the first installment of compensation is due, the employer or the employer's insurance carrier shall tender to the employee or to the employee's dependents, with all compensation due, a properly prepared compensation agreement in a form prescribed by the board. If the employer denies liability, the employer must inform the board and the employee or the dependents of the employee of the denial. Notice of denial must be made in writing in a form prescribed by the board and mailed not later than twenty-nine (29) Whenever an employer or the employer's insurance carrier denies or is not able to determine liability to pay compensation or benefits, the employer or the employer's insurance carrier shall notify the worker's compensation board and the employee in writing on a form prescribed by the worker's compensation board not later than thirty (30) days after the employer's knowledge of the claimed disablement. If a determination of liability cannot be made within thirty (30) days, the worker's compensation board may approve an additional thirty (30) days upon a written request of the employer or the employer's insurance carrier that sets forth the reasons that the determination could not be made within thirty (30) days and states the facts or circumstances that are necessary to determine liability within the additional thirty (30) days. More than thirty (30) days of additional time may be approved by the worker's compensation board upon the filing of a petition by the employer or the employer's insurance carrier that sets forth:
        (1) the extraordinary circumstances that have precluded a determination of liability within the initial sixty (60) days;
        (2) the status of the investigation on the date the petition is filed;
        (3) the facts or circumstances that are necessary to make a determination; and
        (4) a timetable for the completion of the remaining investigation.
An employer who fails to comply with this section is subject to a civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50), to be assessed and collected by the board upon notice and hearing. Civil penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the state general fund. The civil penalty may be waived by the board if the employer establishes that a delay of not more than thirty (30) days was caused by an inability to obtain medical information necessary to determine the employer's liability.
    (b) Once begun, temporary total disability benefits may not be terminated by the employer unless:
        (1) the employee has returned to work;
        (2) the employee has died;
        (3) the employee has refused to undergo a medical examination under section 20 of this chapter;
        (4) the employee has received five hundred (500) weeks of temporary total disability benefits or has been paid the maximum compensation allowable under section 19 of this chapter; or
        (5) the employee is unable or unavailable to work for reasons unrelated to the compensable disease.
In all other cases the employer must notify the employee in writing of the employer's intent to terminate the payment of temporary total disability benefits, and of the availability of employment, if any, on a form approved by the board. If the employee disagrees with the proposed termination, the employee must give written notice of disagreement to the board and the employer within seven (7) days after receipt of the notice of intent to terminate benefits. If the board and employer do not receive a notice of disagreement under this section, the employee's temporary total disability benefits shall be terminated. Upon receipt of the notice of disagreement, the board shall immediately contact the parties, which may be by telephone or other means and attempt to resolve the disagreement. If the board is unable to resolve the disagreement within ten (10) days of receipt of the notice of disagreement, the board shall immediately arrange for an evaluation of the employee by an independent medical examiner. The independent medical examiner shall be selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties are unable to agree, appointed by the board under IC 22-3-4-11. If the independent medical examiner determines that the employee is no longer temporarily disabled or is still temporarily disabled but can return to employment that the employer has made available to the employee, or if the employee fails or refuses to appear for examination by the independent medical examiner, temporary total disability benefits may be terminated. If either party disagrees with the opinion of the independent medical examiner, the party shall apply to the board for a hearing under section 27 of this chapter.
    (c) An employer is not required to continue the payment of temporary total disability benefits for more than fourteen (14) days after the employer's proposed termination date unless the independent medical examiner determines that the employee is temporarily disabled and unable to return to any employment that the employer has made available to the employee.
    (d) If it is determined that as a result of this section temporary total disability benefits were overpaid, the overpayment shall be deducted from any benefits due the employee under this section and, if there are no benefits due the employee or the benefits due the employee do not equal the amount of the overpayment, the employee shall be responsible for paying any overpayment which cannot be deducted from benefits due the employee.
    (e) For disablements occurring on and after April 1, 1951, and prior to July 1, 1971, from occupational disease resulting in temporary total disability for any work there shall be paid to the disabled employee during such temporary total disability a weekly compensation equal to sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages for a period not to exceed five hundred (500) weeks. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only if the disability continues for longer than twenty-eight (28) days.
    For disablements occurring on and after July 1, 1971, and prior to July 1, 1974, from occupational disease resulting in temporary total disability for any work there shall be paid to the disabled employee during such temporary total disability a weekly compensation equal to sixty percent (60%) of the employee's average weekly wages, as defined in section 19 of this chapter, for a period not to exceed five hundred (500) weeks. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only if the disability continues for longer than twenty-eight (28) days.
    For disablements occurring on and after July 1, 1974, and before July 1, 1976, from occupational disease resulting in temporary total disability for any work there shall be paid to the disabled employee during such temporary total disability a weekly compensation equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the employee's average weekly wages, up to one hundred thirty-five dollars ($135) average weekly wages, as defined in section 19 of this chapter, for a period not to exceed five hundred (500) weeks. Compensation shall be allowed for the first seven (7) calendar days only if the disability continues for longer than twenty-one (21) days.