WSR 15-14-097 PERMANENT RULES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES [Filed June 30, 2015, 8:48 a.m., effective August 1, 2015] Effective Date of Rule: August 1, 2015.
Purpose: The proposed rule amendment will affect workers participating in a vocational retraining plan. The existing rule excludes workers in vocational retraining from receiving reimbursement for the first fifteen miles of an authorized one-way trip and the first and last fifteen miles of an authorized round trip. The proposed amendment will allow workers who are actively participating in a vocational retraining plan to receive reimbursement for travel associated with the retraining without a reduction of mileage.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 296-20-1103.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 51.04.020, 51.04.030.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 15-09-118 on April 21, 2015.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: June 30, 2015.
Joel Sacks
Director
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 10-15-105, filed 7/20/10, effective 9/1/10)
WAC 296-20-1103 Travel expense.
(1) The department or self-insurer will reimburse travel expense incurred by workers for ((the following reasons)):
(((1))) (a) Examinations at department's or self-insurer's request;
(((2))) (b) Approved vocational retraining or vocational services at department's or self-insurer's request;
(((3))) (c) Fitting of prosthetic device; ((and
(4))) (d) Upon prior authorization for treatment ((or vocational retraining)) when worker must travel more than fifteen miles one-way from the worker's home to the nearest point of adequate treatment ((or vocational retraining)). Travel expense is not payable when adequate treatment is available within fifteen miles of injured worker's home, yet the injured worker prefers to report to an attending provider outside the worker's home area.
(2) Under subsection((s (3) and (4))) (1)(c) and (d) of this section, when travel expense is authorized the first fifteen miles one-way are not payable. The first and last fifteen miles are not payable on an authorized round trip.
(3) Travel expenses will be reimbursed at the current department rate.
(4) Receipts are required for all expenses except parking expenses under ten dollars.
(5) Claims for reimbursement of travel expenses must be received by the department or self-insurer within one year after the date expenses are incurred. Refer to WAC 296-20-125 and to department policy for additional rules.
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