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MWWDA NEWS:
FILING WATER RIGHTS
Take notice that Form 602-Notice of completion of groundwater development, fiing fee has increased to $125 as of 2/15/08.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Back on December 19th of 2007 several members of the Board of Directors and general membership of the Montana Water Well Drillers Association participated in a workers' compensation Classifications & Rates Committee hearing in Helena. The Classifications and Rates Committee provides an appeals process to dispute NCCI (National Council on Compensation Insurance) rulings.
NCCI is the rule and rate making authority for workers' compensation insurance in Montana. Insurance companies, including the Montana State Fund, subscribe to NCCI for underwriting rules and rate making. When there is a question on how a particular risk should be classified the insurance company writing the insurance asks NCCI for clarification and direction.
Back in late summer of 2007 the Montana State Fund asked NCCI for an interpretation on the use of class code 5183-Plumbing NOC & Drivers, for pump work. Note, the rate for plumbing is significantly less than the rate for drilling. NCCI reviewed the matter and determined that the only way the plumbing code could be used is if the pump work was done under a separate contract and not under the same contract as the drilling. This was a reversal of the way the pump work has been classified historically in Montana. The long and the short of the matter was that water well drillers were headed for higher premiums as pump work was going to be classified as drilling.
We are happy to inform you that the Montana Water Well Drillers Association prevailed at the Classifications & Rates Committee hearing and a special state exception has been implementd for Montana water well drillers. The special exception basically states as long as the pump is installed using pump setting equipment and not water well drilling equipment, the payroll of the employee can be classified as plumbing.
We would like to offer a special thank you to all of those who made the trip to Helena on wintry roads to support Montana water well drillers.
Be sure to contact your workers' compensation agent for any questions you may have.
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