HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2765

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Commerce & Labor

Title:  An act relating to costs of transportation and child and dependent care for industrial insurance vocational rehabilitation.

Brief Description:  Providing for vocational rehabilitation costs.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. King and Prentice.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, February 7, 1992, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; Vance; and Wilson.

Staff:  Chris Cordes (786-7117).

Background:  Injured workers may participate in vocational rehabilitation programs if the program is necessary and likely to enable the worker to become employable at gainful employment.  The department, or self-insurer, may pay up to $3,000 toward the costs of books, tuition, supplies, transportation, child or dependent care, and other necessary expenses of the program.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Labor and Industries is authorized to pay, or to direct the self-insurer to pay, the costs of transportation and child or dependent care related to an injured worker's participation in a vocational rehabilitation program.  This payment is in addition to the $3,000 amount authorized for vocational rehabilitation program costs.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 7, 1992.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.