HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2196

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to provision of industrial insurance claim files.

Brief Description:  Requiring the department of labor and industries to provide claimants copies of claim files.

Sponsors:  Representatives G. Cole, Conway, Jones, L. Johnson, Campbell and Heavey.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 2, 1994, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Lisk, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway; Horn; King; Springer and Veloria.

Staff:  Wright Noel (786-5793) and Chris Cordes (786-7117).

Background:  The Department of Labor and Industries will release a microfiche copy of an injured worker's claim file for free, if release of the worker's file is permitted by statute.  Paper copies of a worker's file are provided at 25 cents a page for files containing 10 pages or more.  If a file contains less than 10 pages, fees are not ordinarily assessed.

A self-insured employer is required to provide a free copy of an injured worker's claim file or requested portions of the file within 15 days of a request by the employee, if release of the file is permitted under statutes authorizing access to claim files.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Department of Labor and Industries is required to provide a free copy of an injured worker's claim file to the worker or worker's employer within 15 days after a request is made, if release of the file is permitted by statute.  When second or subsequent requests are made, reasonable charges may be assessed.  The department is also required to provide free copies of material added to the file after the initial request.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amendment changes the bill to allow the injured worker's employer to receive a free copy of the file.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.