S-3911.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6594

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senators Anderson, Schow, Rossi, Horn and Oke

Read first time 01/22/98.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Prohibiting industrial insurance benefits if alcohol or controlled substances contributed to the injury or death.

    AN ACT Relating to prohibiting industrial insurance benefits payment if the use of alcohol or controlled substances materially contributed to the injury or death; and adding new sections to chapter 51.32 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 51.32 RCW to read as follows:

    If an employer establishes that a worker's use of alcohol or a controlled substance, as defined in the uniform controlled substances act, chapter 69.50 RCW, materially contributed to the worker's own injury or death, the payment of all benefits under this title is forfeited.

    Nothing in this section precludes the payment of benefits if the worker, at the time of injury or death, was under the influence of a controlled substance taken in accordance with a prescription issued by a licensed physician.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 51.32 RCW to read as follows:

    All employers in this state shall post a notice informing their workers of section 1 of this act.

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