SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1238

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Labor & Workforce Development, April 1, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the membership of the board of industrial insurance appeals.

Brief Description:  Appointing a temporary member to the board of industrial insurance appeals due to illness of a board member.

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway, Clements, Wood, McMorris and Hurst.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  3/30/99, 4/1/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Hochstatter, Kline, Oke and Wojahn.

Staff:  David Pringle (786-7448)

Background:  The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals hears appeals of workers' compensation decisions, Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act citations and crime victims' compensation decisions.

The board is composed of one business member, one labor member, and one member of the public.  Appointments to the board are made by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.  Members serve six-year terms.

Additional members may be appointed by the Governor in two circumstances.  If there is a mid-term vacancy, a successor may be appointed to fill the unexpired term.  If the board faces an unusually heavy workload, two additional pro-tem members may be appointed for a definite period of time.

Summary of Bill:  If a board member becomes incapacitated for more than 30 days due to illness or the illness of an immediate family member, the Governor must appoint an acting member.  The acting member serves until the affected member is able to reassume his or her duties, or until the incapacitated member's term expires, whichever occurs first.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.