Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-17 WAC, General reporting rules, audit, and recordkeeping, rates and rating system and chapter 296-17A WAC, Classifications for Washington workers' compensation insurance.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 51.04.020, 51.16.035, and 51.18.010.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Labor and industries is required by law to establish and maintain a workers' compensation classification plan that classifies all occupations or industries in accordance with their degree of hazard (RCW 51.16.035) and adopt rules governing the administration of this rule (RCW 51.04.020). The department has been asked to review the appropriateness of our current practices for reporting sport team coaches.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state, local or federal agency regulates this issue.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Premium rates for each classification are developed in part from the past loss experience of employers subject to the classification, changes in benefit levels mandated by law or court decisions, medical inflation, economic and business trends and financial markets. Interested parties may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments and/or testimony during the public hearing and comment process. Public hearings will be held after the proposal is filed.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by commenting to Richard Bredeson, P.O. Box 44140, Olympia, WA 98504-4140, e-mail bred235@lni.wa.gov, phone (360) 902-4985, fax (360) 902-4988.

February 15, 2011

Judy Schurke

Director

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