HB123--WORKERS'COMPENSATIONADMINISTRATIVE LAWJUDGES
SPONSOR: Veit
Currently,aretentionvoteisrequiredtobetakenbythe
Administrative LawJudgeReviewCommitteewithrespecttoeach
Workers'CompensationAdministrative LawJudge(ALJ).
Additionally,theCommitteeisrequiredtoconductperformance
auditsperiodicallyandmakerecommendations ofconfidenceorno
confidencewithrespecttoeachALJ.Thisbillrepealsthese
requirementsandinsteadcreatesnewprovisionsforfiling
complaintsagainstandremovingALJs.
Priortofilingacomplaint,theDirectormustnotifytheALJin
writingofthereasonsforthecomplaint. Specialprovisionsare
includedifthereasonforthecomplaintiswillfulneglectofduty
orincompetency.
UponafindingbytheAdministrative HearingCommission(AHC)that
thegroundsfordisciplinaryactionaremet,theDirectormay,
singlyorincombination,issuethedisciplinaryactionsagainst
theALJ,asspecifiedinthebill,includingremovalorsuspension
fromoffice.Iftherearenogroundsfordisciplinaryaction,the
ALJwillimmediatelyresumedutiesandwillreceiveanyattorneys'
feesdueundercurrentlaw.
ThebillrepealsarequirementthattheCommitteemembersnothave
anydirectorindirectemploymentorfinancialconnectionwitha
workers'compensationinsurancecompany,claimsadjustmentcompany,
healthcareprovidernorbeapracticingWorkers'Compensation
attorney. Thebilladditionallyrepealsarequirementthatall
membersoftheCommitteehaveaworkingknowledgeofWorkers'
Compensation.
ThebillprovidesthatthecompensationforAdministrative Law
Judgesandchiefadministrative lawjudgeswillbedetermined
solelybytherateoutlinedinlawandwillnotincreasewhenpay
raisesforexecutiveemployeesareappropriated.
ThebillfurthermorerepealsreferencetothepositionofChief
LegalCounsel.
Thebillrepealsaprohibitiononthepaymentofanyretirement
benefitsunderWorkers'CompensationlawtoanyAdministrative Law
Judgewhohasbeenremovedfromofficebyimpeachmentorfor
misconduct,ortoanypersonwhohasbeendisbarredfromthe
practiceoflaw,ortothebeneficiaryofanysuchpersons.
ThisbillissimilartoSCSHCSHB2064(2024).