H.P. 610 - L.D. 835
Resolve, Instructing the Workers' Compensation Board to Study and Make Recommendations Regarding the Occupational Disease Law
Sec. 1. Study of Occupational Disease Law. Resolved: That the Workers' Compensation Board, the Bureau of Health, the Bureau of Insurance and the Bureau of Labor Standards shall study the unique issues involved in providing workers' compensation benefits to employees under the Occupational Disease Law and make recommendations as necessary to ensure that the purposes of the Workers' Compensation Act of 1992 are achieved with respect to occupational diseases. The particular topics to study must include issues related to proof of causation when the occupational disease is thought to arise from exposure to hazardous materials; unique problems arising when there is a prolonged period between exposure to the hazardous material and the onset of disease; apportionment of liability for occupational diseases; and the provision of benefits in cases where the employee has not lost any time from work. The groups may rely on their staffs to conduct this study and may also request the assistance without pay of any other person or group in providing information for this study; and be it further
Sec. 2. Report and recommendations. Resolved: That the groups named in section 1 shall report by January 15, 1999 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters on the study conducted pursuant to section 1. The report must contain a discussion of the issues, alternative approaches that may be taken to address any problems identified, a recommended definition for occupational disease, a recommendation for tracking data on occupational diseases and any other recommendations considered necessary. The groups may submit with the report legislation necessary to implement their recommendations.
Effective June 30, 1998, unless otherwise indicated.
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