NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1975 SESSION

CHAPTER 266

HOUSE BILL 543

AN ACT TO AMEND THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT SO AS TO PROVIDE PAYMENT FOR DAMAGE TO PROSTHETIC DEVICES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 97-2(6) is hereby amended by adding a sentence to the end of said subsection to read as follows:

"Injury shall include breakage or damage to eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, or other prosthetic devices which function as part of the body; provided, however, that eyeglasses and hearing aids will not be replaced, repaired, or otherwise compensated for unless injury to them is incidental to a compensable injury. The Commissioner of Insurance shall hold a rate hearing, within 60 days of the effective date of this bill, in order to make necessary rate adjustments."

Sec. 2.  This act shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 1975, and shall apply only to accidents occurring on or after said date.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 12th day of May, 1975.