S-1069               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4192

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Warnke, Newhouse, Conner, Deccio and Vognild; by Joint Select Committee on Workers' Compensation request

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor.

AN ACT Relating to the activities of the workers' compensation advisory committee; and adding a new section to chapter 51.04 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 51.04 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) There is established a workers' compensation ombudsperson office to aid employers and claimants in dealing with the industrial insurance system.  The ombudsperson shall be appointed by the governor and shall be under the direction of the workers' compensation advisory committee.  The ombudsperson's duties shall include but not be limited to:

          (a) Answering inquiries and investigating complaints made by employers and claimants about the processing of claims;

          (b) Informing employers and claimants about problems in the administration of the system;

          (c) Answering questions and investigating complaints made by employers about the assessment and collection of premiums; and

          (d) Preparing annual reports that summarize the ombudsperson office's activities and present recommendations for changes in the industrial insurance system.  The annual report shall be submitted to the governor and the legislature on the first day of each regular legislative session.  The report shall specifically include the number and types of complaints and investigations conducted by the office and any other information which describes the cost-effectiveness of the office's activities.

          (2) Funding for the office shall be by appropriation from the industrial insurance trust fund.