BILL REQ. #:  S-4109.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/02/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing priorities for the industrial insurance system; adding a new section to chapter 51.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 51.04 RCW to read as follows:
     The department must continuously improve in quality, efficiency, and effectiveness to increase public trust in the way the department operates and delivers services so that employers and workers receive maximum value for their premium dollars. Further, the department must establish priorities for the delivery of its services and annually assess whether the department's programs and activities contribute to the department's priorities. The highest priority programs must be evaluated to determine if they are operating at maximum efficiency, and the lowest priority programs must be assessed to determine their continued viability. The department shall release its annual assessment to the citizens of the state, the governor, and the appropriate legislative committees by January 1st of each year.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The office of financial management shall draft a plan for funding the programs and services not directly related to industrial insurance that are currently funded through the medical aid and accident funds. The office of financial management shall convene an advisory panel comprised of representatives of both labor and business to assist it in developing the plan. For the medical aid fund, the office of financial management shall include in its plan how to pay for programs and services currently funded that do not meet the following criteria: Medical aid and like benefits for loss sustained because of injury, disease, or death provided for by Title 51 RCW, administration costs of Title 51 RCW, and debt service for capital improvements related to the state fund. For the accident fund, the office of financial management shall include in its plan how to pay for programs and services currently funded that do not meet the following criteria: Payment of compensation, vocational rehabilitation, death benefits, funeral expenses, or like benefits for loss sustained because of injury, disease, or death provided for by Title 51 RCW, administration costs of Title 51 RCW, and debt service for capital improvements related to the state fund. The report shall be delivered to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by November 1, 2004.