Does the tribe need to pass any type of ordinance to participate in TEIP?
No. The TEIP program provides a benefit schedule for lost wages, medical costs and loss of use of body parts. If a tribe has an existing ordinance for workers’ compensation, the TEIP will adopt the tribe’s ordinance IF the benefit levels of the tribal ordinance are equal or less than the benefit levels provided under the TEIP program. Tribes are highly encouraged to adopt a workers’ compensation ordinance as an exercise of sovereignty, and the TEIP program would be an excellent model ordinance.
