KRS 342.792: Consideration, reopening, and filing of claims of miners who were last

exposed to hazards on certain dates -- Benefits.

(1) The claim of any miner last exposed to the occupational hazards of coal workers'

pneumoconiosis between December 12, 199 6, and July 15, 2002, shall nonetheless

be governed by the provisions of KRS 342.732 and notwithstanding the provisions

of KRS 342.125 all claims for benefits which were filed for last injurious

occupational exposure to coal dust occurring between December 12, 1996, and July

15, 2002, shall be considered pursuant to the provisions of KRS 342.732 and

administrative regulations promulgated by the commissioner, and closed claims,

except claims dismissed for reasons other than failure to meet medical eligibilit y

standards, may be reopened by the claimant. Income or retraining incentive benefits

shall be awarded thereon as if the entitlement standards established by the

amendments to KRS 342.732 were effective at the time of last exposure. Any

benefits previously granted by an award or settlement shall be credited against any

subsequent award or settlement and no interest shall be payable on additional

benefits. A previous grant of retraining incentive benefits shall be credited only to

the extent that the benefit s were actually paid. All income or retraining incentive

benefits greater than those which would have been awarded were not these new

provisions applicable shall be paid without interest from the Kentucky coal workers'

pneumoconiosis fund, the provisions o f KRS 342.1242 notwithstanding, for claims

filed on or before June 30, 2017, and by the employer for claims filed after June 30,

2017.

(2) The original claim of any miner last exposed to the occupational hazards of coal

workers' pneumoconiosis prior to Dec ember 12, 1996, which was subject to a

university evaluation pursuant to KRS 342.315 and was dismissed upon a finding

that the miner did not prove the presence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis

radiographically may be reopened by the claimant notwithstanding the provisions of

KRS 342.125, pursuant to administrative regulations adopted by the commissioner.

Income benefits may be awarded thereon pursuant to entitlement standards effective

as of the date of last exposure, except the income or retraining benefits shall be paid

without interest from the Kentucky coal workers' pneumoconiosis fund, the

provisions of KRS 342.1242 notwithstanding, for claims filed on or before June 30,

2017, and by the employer for claims filed after June 30, 2017.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of KRS 342.316(4)(a), the coal workers'

pneumoconiosis claim of any miner last exposed between December 12, 1996, and

July 15, 2002, may be filed with the commissioner on or before December 12, 2003,

or within the time frame prescribed by KR S 342.316(4)(a), whichever is longer. All

income or retraining incentive benefits greater than those which would have been

awarded were not these new provisions applicable shall be paid by the Kentucky

coal workers' pneumoconiosis fund without interest, th e provisions of KRS

342.1242 notwithstanding, for claims filed on or before June 30, 2017, and by the

employer for claims filed after June 30, 2017.