H-3721              _______________________________________________

                                      HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives R. King, Patrick, Wang, Chandler, Lux and Ballard; by request of Joint Select Committee on Industrial Insurance

Read first time 1/24/86 and referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

WHEREAS, The industrial insurance system of the state of Washington has been subjected to intensive review and analysis in recent years; and

          WHEREAS, The Joint Select Committee on Workers' Compensation created in 1984 by House Concurrent Resolution No. 35 and the Joint Select Committee on Industrial Insurance created in 1985 Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 114 presented reports of findings and recommendations to the 1985 and 1986 Legislatures; and

          WHEREAS, Many of the recommendations of the joint select committees require on-going analysis and continuing legislative oversight for proper implementation; and

          WHEREAS, The impact of the industrial insurance system on this state's employers and workers warrants continuing legislative oversight and analysis;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a Joint Select Committee on Industrial Compensation be established to continue the review and analysis of this state's industrial insurance system and to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the joint select committees; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee, through consultation with the Department of Labor and Industries, the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, and the various interest groups affected by the industrial insurance system, shall review and make recommendations on the following issues:

          (1) Implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Workers' Compensation and the Joint Select Committee on Industrial Insurance;

          (2) The allocation of benefits under the permanent partial disability system, including issues of adequacy and equity;

          (3) The vocational rehabilitation program and its effectiveness in returning injured workers to gainful employment; and

          (4) Any other industrial insurance issue that the committee determines to be pertinent to its general responsibility; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall consist of ten voting members appointed as follows:

          (1) Two members from each caucus of the Senate, selected by the President of the Senate; at least one member from each caucus shall be a member of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee;

          (2) Two members from each caucus of the House of Representatives, selected by the Speaker; at least one member from each caucus shall be a member of the House Commerce and Labor Committee; and

          (3) The chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Commerce and Labor Committees; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee will use legislative staff and facilities, but may hire additional staff with specific technical expertise if such expertise is necessary to carry out the mandates of this resolution.  All expenses of the committee shall be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by the commencement of the 1987 regular session of the Legislature.  The committee shall cease to exist on April 1, 1987.