A. If a guardian or legal representative has been appointed for a person who is incompetent or a minor, payment of compensation benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act [Chapter 52, Article 1 NMSA 1978] or the New Mexico Occupational Disease Disablement Law [52-3-1 NMSA 1978] shall be made to the guardian or legal representative.
B. If no guardian or legal representative has been appointed and notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, the compensation benefits payable to a minor or incompetent person may, upon approval of the director after hearing, be paid by the employer in whole or in such part as the director determines for and on behalf of the minor or incompetent person directly to the person caring for, supporting or having custody of the minor or incompetent person, without requiring the appointment of a guardian or legal representative. The director may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a guardian or other representative to receive compensation benefits payable to, or to represent in compensation proceedings, any person who is incompetent or a minor.
C. The director may require of a guardian or other legal representative or of any person to whom compensation benefits may be paid under this section an accounting of the disposition of the funds received by the person under the Workers' Compensation Act or the New Mexico Occupational Disease Disablement Law and for and on behalf of the minor or incompetent person.
D. Nothing in the Workers' Compensation Act or the New Mexico Occupational Disease Disablement Law precludes the payment of compensation benefits directly to a minor or incompetent person with the approval of the director.
E. The payment of compensation by the employer in accordance with the order of the director discharges the employer from all further obligation as to that compensation.
History: Laws 1986, ch. 22, § 37; 1989, ch. 263, § 80.
ANNOTATIONSAm. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — Workers' compensation statute as barring illegally employed minor's tort action, 77 A.L.R.4th 844.