HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1728

BYHouse Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Wang, Patrick, R. King, P. King, Winsley and Cooper)

Establishing office of information and assistance within the department of labor and industries.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisher, Jones, R. King, O'Brien, Patrick, Sanders, Sayan and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Commerce & Labor be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Peery, Sayan, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle and Wang.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (7)

      Signed by Representatives Brough, Butterfield, Fuhrman, Holland, McLean, Nealey and Silver.

House Staff:      Maureen Morris (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 16, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The 1984 Joint Select Committee on Workers' Compensation recommended that a workers' compensation ombuds office be established to assist employers and workers in dealing with the industrial insurance system.  Although the legislation to implement this recommendation was not enacted, the Department of Labor and Industries maintains a toll-free hotline for department clients to call to make inquiries and receive information.  In addition, customer service staff within the department provide claims assistance.

SUMMARY:

An office of information and assistance is created in the Department of Labor and Industries to aid workers, employers, health care providers and other department clients.  The office's functions include:  (1)  answering inquiries and complaints related to industrial insurance claims and premiums;  (2) providing referrals to agency programs appropriate for injured workers and their families; (3)  providing referrals for inquiries related to other divisions of the department; and (4) maintaining the toll-free hotline for department clients.  The office must prepare quarterly reports on its activities for review by the workers' compensation advisory committee.  Annual reports will be submitted to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature at the beginning of the regular legislative session.  The assistant in charge of the office is exempt from civil service law.

Appropriation:    $244,644 to the Department of Labor and Industries.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 24, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Commerce & Labor)  Betty Buckley, Department of Labor and Industries.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Betty Buckley, Labor & Industries.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Commerce & Labor)  Bob Sevart and Kate Austin, Injured Workers Awareness Coalition.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Commerce & Labor)  If the bill is enacted, the Department of Labor and Industries would be able to offer additional services to assist injured workers and other department clients with claim-related problems.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  This office will help employers and injured workers utilize Labor and Industries' services.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Commerce and Labor)  An advocacy agency to assist injured workers needs to be established outside of the Department of Labor and Industries.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.