Z-1146 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL NO. 2500
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1990 Regular Session
By Representatives Prentice, Walker, Cole, Leonard, Winsley and Wood; by request of Department of Labor and Industries
Read first time 1/12/90 and referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
AN ACT Relating to workers' compensation claim files; and amending RCW 51.28.070.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. Section 51.28.070, chapter 23, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 36, chapter 350, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 51.28.070 are each amended to read as follows:
Information
contained in the claim files and records of injured workers, under the
provisions of this title, shall be deemed confidential and shall not be open to
public inspection (other than to public employees in the performance of their
official duties), but representatives of a claimant, be it an individual or an
organization, may review a claim file or receive specific information therefrom
upon the presentation of the signed authorization of the claimant. A
claimant may review his or her claim file if the director approves, pursuant to
criteria adopted by rule. Employers or their duly authorized
representatives may review any files of their own injured workers in connection
with any pending claims. Physicians treating or examining workers claiming
benefits under this title, or physicians giving medical advice to the
department regarding any claim may, at the discretion of the department,
inspect the claim files and records of injured workers, and other persons may
make such inspection, at the ((departments)) department's
discretion, when such persons are rendering assistance to the department at any
stage of the proceedings on any matter pertaining to the administration of this
title.