Revision: May 6, 2026, 4:32 p.m.
Rep. Layon, Rock. 13
May 6, 2026
2026-1869h
05/07
Amendment to SB 569
Amend the bill by replacing section 1 with the following:
1 Hearing Officers. Amend RSA 281-A:42-b to read as follows:
281-A:42-b Hearing Officers. The commissioner shall appoint as many individuals as necessary to carry out the department's responsibilities under this chapter. Such individuals [shall have experience in workers' compensation and] shall hear workers' compensation cases before the commissioner. The commissioner shall set forth the job qualification necessary to [insure] ensure that each hearing officer is qualified to hear workers' compensation cases. Individuals employed as hearing officers shall have graduated from an accredited law school. The commissioner shall give a hiring preference to licensed attorneys who have workers' compensation experience or who have administrative adjudication experience. The hearing officer salary shall be commensurate with the responsibilities and experience required. The commissioner shall, by rules adopted under RSA 541-A, strengthen the reporting structure and the role of a hearing officer; develop a code of ethics for hearings and hearing officers; develop and require at least 15 hours of continuing education on an annual basis for hearing officers; and require a minimum of an additional 15 hours of annual training and briefing with the attorney general's staff.
2026-1869h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires hearing officers at the department of labor to be graduates of an accredited law school and directs the labor commissioner to give a hiring preference to licensed attorneys who have workers' compensation experience or who have administrative adjudication experience.