HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1712

BYRepresentatives R. King, Patrick and Sprenkle

Requiring the personnel board to establish a return-to-work policy.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Vekich, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Patrick, Ranking Republican Member; Jones, R. King, Leonard, O'Brien, Prentice, Smith, Walker and Wolfe.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR FEBRUARY 17, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Under the industrial insurance law, state agencies may participate in retrospective rating programs that pay premium refunds if the agency reduces its claim experience during the retrospective plan period.  The retrospective rating program also provides these agencies with assistance in creating effective safety programs and better claims management.  As part of these loss control programs, several state agencies have adopted or are considering programs that provide return-to-work opportunities for employees who are capable of light or modified duty during the period in which the employee is recovering from the industrial injury.  Return-to-work programs are not mandated by state law.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The State Board of Personnel is directed to adopt rules establishing a state employee return-to-work program and requiring each state agency to adopt a return-to-work policy.  The program would provide eligibility in the return-to-work program, for two years, for any permanent employee who is receiving industrial insurance temporary total disability compensation and who is unable to return to his or her previous work, but is physically capable of carrying out work of a lighter or modified nature. The board's rules must also (1) allow opportunity for state-wide return-to-work when an appropriate light duty job is not available in the appointing agency; (2) require each agency to appoint a program coordinator;  (3) require that job applicants receive an explanation of the return-to-work policy; (4) require training of supervisors on implementation of the return-to-work policy; and (5) coordinate participation, as appropriate, of employee assistance programs.

Agency full-time equivalents necessary to implement the return-to- work program are to be used only for the program and the net increase in full-time equivalents is temporary.

The Department of Labor and Industries is directed to appoint a state employee vocational rehabilitation coordinator to assist the state return-to-work programs.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The amendment requires the director of the Department of Labor and Industries to appoint a vocational rehabilitation coordinator to assist with the state return to work program instead of establishing a vocational rehabilitation service for the program.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 13, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Dick King, prime sponsor; Gary Moore, Washington Federation of State Employees; Don Scoville, Department of Labor and Industries; and Terry Adler, Grant and Associates.

NEUTRAL:  Bob Boysen, Department of Personnel.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The state, as an employer, should set an example in early intervention and return-to-work programs to get workers back to work early, promote self-worth of the worker, and reduce the costs of the industrial insurance system.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.