§ 49-21-102 — Definitions.

As used in this chapter:
(1) "Date of disability" means the date on which a period of total disability begins, and may not begin on or before the last day of performing full-duty work in the eligible employee's regular occupation.
(2) (2)(a) "Eligible employee" means any of the following employees whose employer provides coverage under this chapter:
(2)(a)(i) (2)(a)(i)(A) any regular full-time employee as defined under Section 49-12-102, 49-13-102, or 49-22-102;
(2)(a)(i)(B) any public safety service employee as defined under Section 49-14-102, 49-15-102, or 49-23-102;
(2)(a)(i)(C) any firefighter service employee or volunteer firefighter as defined under Section 49-23-102 who began firefighter service on or after July 1, 2011;
(2)(a)(i)(D) any judge as defined under Section 49-17-102 or 49-18-102; or
(2)(a)(i)(E) the governor of the state;
(2)(a)(ii) an employee who is exempt from participating in a retirement system under Subsection 49-12-203(4), 49-13-203(4), 49-14-203(1), or 49-15-203(1); and
(2)(a)(iii) an employee who is covered by a retirement program offered by a public or private system, organization, or company designated by the Utah Board of Higher Education.
(2)(b) "Eligible employee" does not include:
(2)(b)(i) any employee that is exempt from coverage under Section 49-21-201; or
(2)(b)(ii) a retiree.
(3) "Elimination period" means the three months at the beginning of each continuous period of total disability for which no benefit will be paid. The elimination period begins on the nearest first day of the month from the date of disability. The elimination period may include a one-time trial return to work period of less than 15 consecutive calendar days.
(4) (4)(a) "Gainful employment" means any occupation or employment position in the state that:
(4)(a)(i) contemplates continued employment during a fiscal or calendar year; and
(4)(a)(ii) would pay an amount equal to or greater than 40 hours per week at 60% of the eligible employee's regular monthly salary, regardless of the number of hours worked.
(4)(b) "Gainful employment" does not mean that an occupation or employment position in the state is:
(4)(b)(i) available within any geographic boundaries of the state;
(4)(b)(ii) offered at a certain level of wages;
(4)(b)(iii) available at a particular number of hours per week; or
(4)(b)(iv) currently available.
(5) "Maximum benefit period" means the maximum period of time the monthly disability income benefit will be paid under Section 49-21-403 for any continuous period of total disability.
(6) "Monthly compensation" means:
(6)(a) the amount an eligible employee's participating employer certifies under Section 49-11-603; plus
(6)(b) if not included in the amount described in Subsection (6)(a), the eligible employee's monthly compensation for the average number of hours the eligible employee demonstrates the eligible employee worked per week during the preceding 12-month period that exceeded the eligible employee's regular weekly schedule, up to 10 hours per week, calculated at the eligible employee's base rate of pay.
(7) "Monthly disability benefit" means the monthly payments and accrual of service credit under Section 49-21-401.
(8) "Objective medical impairment" means an impairment that:
(8)(a) is diagnosed by a physician based on accepted objective medical tests or findings rather than subjective complaints; and
(8)(b) resulted from an injury or illness that is diagnosed by a physician based on accepted objective medical tests or findings rather than subjective complaints.
(9) "Ongoing disability" means, after the elimination period and the first 24 months of disability benefits, the complete inability due to objective medical impairment, as determined under Subsection 49-21-401(9), to engage in any gainful employment which is reasonable, considering the eligible employee's education, training, and experience.
(10) "Own occupation disability" means the complete inability, due to objective medical impairment, whether physical or mental, to engage in the eligible employee's regular occupation during the elimination period and the first 24 months of disability benefits.
(11) "Physician" means a licensed physician.
(12) "Pilot period" means the period beginning on July 1, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2026.
(13) "Regular monthly salary" means the amount certified by the participating employer as the eligible employee's monthly compensation, unless there is a discrepancy between the certified amount and the amount actually paid, in which case the office shall determine the regular monthly salary.
(14) "Regular occupation" means either:
(14)(a) the primary duties performed by the eligible employee for the 12 months preceding the date of disability; or
(14)(b) a permanent assignment of duty to the eligible employee, as long as the eligible employee has actually performed all the required duties of the permanent assignment of duty.
(15) "Rehabilitative employment" means any occupation or employment for wage or profit, for which the eligible employee is reasonably qualified to perform based on education, training, or experience.
(16) "Total disability" means:
(16)(a) own occupation disability; or
(16)(b) ongoing disability.
(17) (17)(a) "Workers' compensation indemnity benefits" means benefits provided that are designed to replace wages under Title 34A, Chapter 2, Part 4, Compensation and Benefits, including wage replacement for a temporary disability, temporary partial disability, permanent partial disability, or permanent total disability.
(17)(b) "Workers' compensation indemnity benefits" includes a settlement amount following a claim for indemnity benefits.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 65, 2025 General Session