5676-S AMH COND BEZN 180

SSB 5676 - H AMD 627

By Representative Condotta

WITHDRAWN 4/10/2007

   Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

   "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The workers' compensation advisory committee created under RCW 51.04.110 shall conduct a study related to temporary total disability compensation. The study must include:

   (a) A review of how industrial insurance loss of earning power benefits are calculated, including how the prior closure of an industrial insurance claim or the receipt of permanent partial disability benefits change the rate at which loss of earning power benefits are calculated upon reopening an industrial insurance claim; and

   (b) A review of policies created by the department of labor and industries for industrial insurance claims in which an employer continues to pay a worker wages which he or she was earning at the time of injury in accordance with RCW 51.32.090(6), including identifying the number of claims in which holiday pay, vacation pay, sick leave, or other similar benefits were deemed payments by the employer for the purposes of RCW 51.32.090(6).

   (2) The workers' compensation advisory committee created under RCW 51.04.110 shall report the results of the study to the house of representatives commerce and labor committee and the senate labor, commerce, research, and development committee by December 1, 2007. The report must include recommendations on whether further legislative action is necessary."

   Correct the title.

EFFECT: Strikes the entire text of the bill and replaces it with a requirement that the Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee conduct a study related to temporary total disability compensation.

Requires the study to include a review of how loss of earning power benefits are calculated, including how the prior closure of a claim or the receipt of permanent partial disability benefits change the rate at which loss of earning power benefits are calculated upon reopening the claim; and a review of the Department's Kept-on-Salary policies, including identifying the number of claims in which holiday pay, vacation pay, sick leave, or other similar benefits were deemed payments by the employer for the purposes of Kept-on-Salary.

Requires the Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee to report to the Legislature by December 1, 2007, including recommendations on whether further legislative action is necessary.