HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 937

BYHouse Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, Lux, R. King, Appelwick, Wang and Cole)

Establishing time limit for forwarding of industrial insurance claims information by self-insurers.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

     Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisch, Fisher,  R. King, Patrick, Sayan, C. Smith and Walker.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7125)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Employers who are self-insured under Washington's industrial insurance system are required to make reports on their claims under specific circumstances and in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Labor and Industries.

SUMMARY:

If a worker or self-insured employer requests a determination from the department on an industrial insurance claim, the self-insurer is required to forward all medical reports and other specified information to the Department of Labor and Industries, if not previously submitted.  All information on a claim in the possession of the self-insurer must be forwarded within ten days of receiving a request by certified mail from the department.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     John Winney, Injured Workers Awareness Committee.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The Department of Labor and Industries needs greater authority to compel self-insured employers to produce claim documents when a determination on the claim is pending.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.