PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Industrial insurance, chapter 296-16 WAC, Employer-worker reemployment incentives.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 51.04.010, 51.04.020, 51.16.120, and chapter 258, Laws of 2004 (SSB 6615).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Based on the statutes and substitute senate bill listed above, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) establishes and adopts rules governing administration of the industrial insurance laws. The proposed rules would amend the existing rule and create new rules governing the preferred worker benefit program, in order to implement the statutory change provided by SSB 6615. The bill provides preferred worker benefits to employers of the developmentally disabled who are injured on the job.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other federal or state agencies regulate this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: Labor and Industries will share the proposal with stakeholders and other interested parties, including the Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee members. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the proposal may contact the person listed below. The public may also participate by providing written comments during the comment period or giving oral testimony at public hearings.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Department of Labor and Industries, Audrey Pitchford, Administrative Regulations Analyst 1, P.O. Box 44208, Olympia WA 98504-4208, phone (360) 902-4583, fax (360) 902-4960, e-mail PITA235@LNI.WA.GOV.
July 20, 2004
Paul Trause
Director