SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5870

BYSenators Anderson, Warnke and Lee

Establishing the industrial insurance labor-management cooperation program.

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 24, 1989; February 28, 1989; January 22, 1990

Senate Staff:Jonathan Seib (786-7427)

AS OF JANUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In a rapidly changing economy, cooperation between labor and management is being viewed more and more as crucial to an area's economic health.  The United States Department of Labor is making a concerted effort to foster better labor-management relations throughout the country.

Some states, and some areas in Washington State, have formal labor-management cooperation mechanisms in place that have reported successes.

Industrial insurance may be an area for which labor- management committees are particularly suited.  Such committees in Oregon have allowed labor and management to jointly and effectively address local industrial insurance concerns.

SUMMARY:

The industrial insurance labor-management cooperation program is established in the Department of Labor and Industries.  It will promote and assist the establishment of local industrial insurance labor-management committees, gather and disseminate information on industrial insurance and relevant issues to be addressed by local committees, and carry-out educational activities to promote labor management cooperation.

The program coordinator appointed by the director of the department reports quarterly to the workers' compensation advisory committee on the program.

The director of the department reports annually to the Legislature on the program.

The program terminates June 30, 1990 unless otherwise extended.

Appropriation:    $100,000 (1/4 from the medical aid fund, 1/4 from the accident fund, and 1/2 from the self-insurers' administrative fund)

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available