SB 5470 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

     Requires a study to be conducted of industrial insurance claims filed by workers who have suffered chemically related illnesses or injuries during the period from January 1, 1995, through December 31, 1998.  At a minimum, the study shall review:  (1) The nature and severity of the illnesses or injuries reported in these industrial insurance claims;

     (2) the disposition of these industrial insurance claims by the department of labor and industries or self-insured employers;

     (3) the degree to which the lives of these claimants have changed from the time of exposure to the time of the study, including physical and financial condition, and the degree to which the change, if any, can be attributed to the chemical exposure;

     (4) the extent to which the chemically related injury center of excellence at Harborview medical center was used to guide adjudication of these claims; and

     (5) recommendations for any changes that may be needed in the way the industrial insurance system deals with chemically related illnesses and injuries.

     Requires an interim report on the findings and recommendations of the study to be provided to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 31, 1999, and a final report by December 1, 2000.