H-1688.1                  _______________________________________________

                                       HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4415

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives G. Cole, Heavey, Conway, King, Springer, Horn, Lisk, Veloria, Chandler, Jones, Rayburn, Hansen, J. Kohl, Eide, Dyer and Quall

Read first time 02/22/93.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Creating a legislative task force on workers' compensation.

          WHEREAS, There is increasing need to review the industrial insurance system, with regard to both its benefits for injured workers and the costs to employers; and

          WHEREAS, The reform efforts in recent years have provided a basis for further review and improvements in the system; and

          WHEREAS, Continued review and analysis of the system is appropriate in light of the system's relationship to other significant issues, such as the economy and the health care delivery system;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a legislative task force on workers' compensation be established to review the state's industrial insurance system and make recommendations on the following issues:

          (1) The adequacy and equity of the industrial insurance benefit structure;

          (2) The administrative operation of the state fund, including claims management and the provision of medical services;

          (3) Incentives in the system to promote safety and return to work;

          (4) Cost drivers in the industrial insurance system and techniques for dealing with the cost drivers; and

          (5) Any other matters in the industrial insurance system deemed appropriate for study by the committee; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force consist of up to twenty-five voting members, as follows:

          (1) Three members from each caucus of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, with at least two members from the membership of the Labor and Commerce Committee;

          (2) Three members from each caucus of the House of Representatives, appointed by the  Speaker of the House of Representatives, with at least two members from the membership of the Commerce and Labor Committee; and

          (3) Up to thirteen members appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to include geographic representation and to fairly represent the following: Injured workers; labor; the legal profession; business including self-insurers; and self-insured public employers; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Department of Labor and Industries shall cooperate with the task force and maintain a liaison representative, who shall be a nonvoting member; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force shall use legislative staff and facilities, but may hire additional staff with specific technical expertise if such expertise is necessary to carry out the mandates of this resolution.  All expenses of the task force, including travel, shall be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 1993; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force shall expire July 1, 1994.

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