SENATE BILL REPORT
SB
5615
As Passed Senate, February 10, 1996
Title: An act relating to compensation during reconsideration of department of labor and industries' industrial insurance orders.
Brief Description: Revising provisions relating to compensation during reconsideration of department of labor and industries industrial insurance orders.
Sponsors: Senators Pelz, Franklin, Hargrove, Snyder, Bauer, Fraser, McAuliffe, Smith, Prentice, Heavey and Rinehart.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Trade: 2/7/95, 2/22/95 [DP, DNP]; 1/24/96 [DP].
Passed Senate, 3/14/95, 28-21; 2/10/96, 27-22.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRADE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Pelz, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Franklin, Fraser and Wojahn.
Staff: Jack Brummel (786-7428)
Background: Workers, employers, and other parties aggrieved by industrial insurance orders of the Department of Labor and Industries may request the department to reconsider such orders.
Summary of Bill: A worker's temporary total disability compensation or medical aid benefits must continue while the order granting such benefits is being reconsidered, subject to repayment or recoupment of the benefits.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 31, 1995.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill helps prevent delay by the department. After an initial finding of validity, the claims should continue because workers going without payment shifts costs to other parts of state government and causes hardship to workers and their families.
Testimony Against: The department is overworked and can't review everything before issuing an order. Mandatory benefits would result in unwarranted payments.
Testified: Robby Stern, WA State Labor Council (pro); Kathryn Fewell, WA Self-Insurers Assn. (con); Clif Finch, AWB (con); Bob Dilger, WA State Building and Construction Trades Council (pro); Sheila Sandwick (pro).