1998 produced some major legislative changes in several areas:
Workers Compensation
* Requires employer to document in writing the circumstances under which a reasonable suspicion drug test is administered under the Drug-Free Workplace Program;
* Exempts property owners from workers compensation requirements if the owner is building, making repairs or additions on his own property without compensation;
* Lowered the threshold amount for fraud to $500;
* Giving each party 90 days after nonsuit to refile;
* Limits reimbursements for travel expenses of injured employee to travel 15 miles outside of radius of 15 miles from employee's residence or workplace.
Family Law/Child Custody
* Requires 60 days notice to non-custodial parent who is exercising visitation before a custodial parent can relocate with the child outside the state or more than 100 miles in state;
* Lists factors to determine whether to allow relocation, including factors to consider for change of custody if parent decides to relocate after court finds relocation not in best interest of child;
Family Law/Divorce
* Added "domestic abuse" as new ground for divorce;
* Eliminates "bed and board" divorce;
* Allows either party to seek divorce if "legally separated" for more than two years; the parties are not precluded from seeking a divorce sooner;
Criminal Law/Capital Punishment
* Lethal injection will become the means of execution after January 1, 1999;
Criminal Law/DUI
* New offense established as Class B misdemeanor for persons who register .08/.09%, with fine of $500;
* Second or third offense is Class A misdemeanor, same as DUI conviction for 10%;
* Fourth offense is Class E felony, with fine of $3-15,000, jail of 150 days, and loss of license for 5 years.