HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2720

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                     Financial Institutions & Insurance

Title:  An act relating to longshore and harbor workers' compensation act insurance.

Brief Description:  Making workers' compensation coverage available to all longshore and harbor workers.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Meyers, Paris, Anderson, Hargrove, Miller, H. Sommers, Winsley, Jones, Basich, J. Kohl, Belcher and Orr.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Financial Institutions & Insurance, February 7, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & INSURANCE

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; Zellinsky, Vice Chair; Broback, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Dorn; Inslee; R. Johnson; R. Meyers; Paris; Schmidt; Scott; and Winsley.

Staff:  John Conniff (786-7119).

Background:  Federal law requires the employers of longshore and harbor workers to obtain workers' compensation coverage  for their employees and maritime employers' liability coverage. Longshore and harbor employees currently are not eligible for coverage under the Washington state workers' compensation insurance program.

In Washington, some employers and employees subject to the federal requirement are unable to obtain insurance through private insurance companies or are unable to self-insure.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The insurance commissioner must study methods of establishing a reasonable plan to provide workers' compensation coverage as required by the federal Longshoreman's and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and must report the findings to the Legislature by January 1, 1993.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  All substantive provisions are replaced with a study of longshoreman's compensation insurance by the insurance commissioner.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.