H-2921.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2196

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives G. Cole, Conway, Jones, L. Johnson, Campbell and Heavey

Read first time 01/11/94.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Requiring the department of labor and industries to provide claimants copies of claim files.

    AN ACT Relating to provision of industrial insurance claim files; and adding a new section to chapter 51.28 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 51.28 RCW to read as follows:

    The department shall provide, when authorized under RCW 51.28.070, a copy of an injured worker's claim file at no cost within fifteen days of receipt of a request by the claimant or the claimant's representative.  In the case of second or subsequent requests, a reasonable charge for copying may be made.  The department shall provide the entire contents of the claim file unless the request is for only a particular portion of the file.  Any new material added to the claim file after the initial request shall be provided under the same terms and conditions as the initial request.

                            --- END ---