S-1853               _______________________________________________

                                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8407

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Anderson, Lee and Matson

Read first time 2/16/89 and referred to Committee on  Economic Development & Labor.

WHEREAS, A strong and effective industrial insurance system is of great benefit to business, workers, and the state; and

          WHEREAS, Greater direct participation in their industrial insurance program by employers and workers can result in improved workplace safety, better treatment for injured workers, and significant cost savings; and

          WHEREAS, Group self-insurance coupled with strong regulatory protections for workers offers an opportunity for expanded employer and worker participation in their industrial insurance program; and

          WHEREAS, The Senate is completing a major outside study which identifies the strengths and weaknesses of group self-insurance systems in other states; and

          WHEREAS, Any major change in the industrial insurance program should only be made after careful research and consideration;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, that a Joint Select Committee on group self-insurance be established to examine that method of insuring industrial insurance obligations; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee, through consultation with labor, business, the Department of Labor and Industries, and other states, shall conduct a study of group self-insurance performance in other states and the potential impact in Washington State; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall examine membership, financial security, and regulatory options under a group self-insurance system and develop at least two statutory schemes with at least one emphasizing group flexibility and another emphasizing regulatory control, as majority and minority reports if necessary, and a recommended scheme; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall consist of ten voting members appointed as follows:

          (1) Two members from each caucus of the Senate selected by the President of the Senate, at least one member from each caucus shall be a member of the Senate Economic Development and Labor Committee;

          (2) Two members from each caucus of the House of Representatives selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least one member from each caucus shall be a member of the House of Representatives Commerce and Labor Committee; and

          (3) The chairs of the Senate Economic Development and Labor Committee and the House of Representatives Commerce and Labor Committee; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee will use legislative staff and facilities, but may hire additional staff with specific needed expertise and may use the services of consultants.  All expenses of the committee shall be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by the commencement of the 1990 regular session of the Legislature.  The committee shall cease to exist on April 1, 1990.