HB 255-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
08Jan2014… 2427h
04/17/14 1301s
2013 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 255-FN
AN ACT establishing a commission to study medical costs and payments under workers’ compensation law.
SPONSORS: Rep. Daniels, Hills 40
COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
This bill establishes a commission to study medical costs and payments under workers’ compensation law.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
08Jan2014… 2427h
04/17/14 1301s
13-0193
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT establishing a commission to study medical costs and payments under workers’ compensation law.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Workers’ Compensation Study Commission. Amend RSA 281-A by inserting after section 70 the following new subdivision:
Workers’ Compensation Study Commission
281-A:71 Workers’ Compensation Study Commission.
I. There is established a commission to study medical costs and payments under workers’ compensation laws. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Five members of the house of representatives, all of whom shall be members of the labor, industrial and rehabilitative services committee, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of labor, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of insurance, or designee.
(e) A licensed physician who treats injured workers, appointed by the New Hampshire Medical Society.
(f) One member from the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by that association.
(g) One member from the advisory council on workers’ compensation, appointed by the governor.
(h) Two attorneys, one representing injured workers, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one representing insurance companies or employers, appointed by the president of the senate.
(i) Two persons representing labor, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the president of the senate.
(j) One member from the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association, appointed by that association.
(k) One member from the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, appointed by that association.
(l) A representative of an insurance company that writes workers’ compensation in New?Hampshire, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(m) A representative of a self-insured entity, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. No member appointed to the commission shall be a lobbyist registered under RSA 15:1.
IV. The commission shall study:
(a) The feasibility of creating fee schedules under New Hampshire’s workers’ compensation laws, including the arguments for and against such changes.
(b) The feasibility of a drug testing program or other measures to address opioid use.
(c) Recommendations for other issues concerning the New Hampshire workers’ compensation system that warrant further investigation by the general court.
V. The chairperson shall be the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the chairperson and shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. The departments of insurance and labor and appropriate legislative research entities shall provide assistance and support to the commission as necessary. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2014.
2 Repeal. RSA 281-A:71, relative to the commission to study medical costs and payments under workers’ compensation law, is repealed.
3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2014.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
13-0193
Amended 04/21/14
HB 255-FN FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a commission to study medical costs and payments under workers’ compensation law.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2014-1301s), will have no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill establishes a workers’ compensation study commission to study medical costs and payments under workers’ compensation laws. This bill will have no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue or expenditures.