HLS 12RS-4892 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 133
BY REPRESENTATIVE BROADWATER
WORKERS COMPENSATION: Requests the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council
to study and propose funding sources for an employee reemployment and retraining
program
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council to study reemployment2
and retraining programs for injured workers, to project the amount of funding that3
is needed, to look for sources of funding, and to report its findings to the House4
Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations no later than December 31, 2012.5
WHEREAS, the return of an injured employee to the workforce as soon as possible6
is beneficial for both the worker and employer; and7
WHEREAS, the retraining and reemployment of an injured employee who, due to8
an injury, is no longer able to perform the duties for which he was trained is imperative; and9
WHEREAS, the longer an injured worker is out of the workforce, the more likely he10
is to remain out of the workforce indefinitely; and11
WHEREAS, on March 29, 2012, Representative Broadwater proposed House Bill12
No. 360 to the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations which would have13
created the Injured Employee Reemployment and Retraining Fund; and14
WHEREAS, although most parties were in agreement with the concept, many believe15
it is cost prohibitive; and16
WHEREAS, funding sources that involve federal match dollars are available to the17
Louisiana Workforce Commission for various programs such as Louisiana Rehabilitative18
Services and the Second Injury Fund; and19 HLS 12RS-4892 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 133
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WHEREAS, an injured worker reemployment and retraining program could be1
funded with the help of the federal dollars; and2
WHEREAS, the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council is statutorily created by3
R.S. 23:1294 and charged with monitoring and reporting to the governor and the legislature4
the implementation and administration of workers' compensation claims and related issues;5
and6
WHEREAS, the director of the office of workers' compensation administration of7
the Louisiana Workforce Commission is the chairman of the Workers' Compensation8
Advisory Council; and9
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council10
study the feasibility of creating reemployment and retraining programs for injured workers.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the12
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Workers' Compensation Advisory13
Council to study reemployment and retraining programs for injured workers, to project the14
amount of funding that is needed, to look for sources of funding, and to report its findings15
to the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations no later than December 31, 2012.16
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the17
Louisiana Workforce Commission.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Broadwater HR No. 133
Requests the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council to study reemployment and
retraining programs for injured workers, to project the amount of funding that is needed, to
look for sources of funding, and to report its findings to the House Committee on Labor and
Industrial Relations by Dec. 31, 2012.