LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Workers' Compensation: Provide Guidelines and Limits on Number of Corporate Exemptions; Revise Provisions Relating to Subrogation; Create a Fraud and Compliance Unit; Provide Requirements Relating to Advertising; Revise Other Miscellaneous Aspects of Workers' Compensation System

The Act amends several aspects of the workers’ compensation system. First, the Act makes several changes affecting legal action under the Workers’ Compensation Act, including changes affecting employer’s subrogation liens, the admissibility of certain evidence, and required mediation. Second, the Act attempts to eliminate fraud in the area of workers’ compensation by imposing heavier penalties and by establishing a fraud and compliance unit within the Workers’ Compensation Board. Furthermore, the Act includes the Workers’ Compensation Truth in Advertising Act of 1995 to assure truthful and adequate disclosure in all advertisements relating to workers’ compensation.

Finally. the Act makes numerous miscellaneous changes that affect the system of workers’ compensation, such as revising the definition of catastrophic injuries, limiting corporate exemptions, and providing for assessments of penalties against employers or their insurance carriers for delay in payment of benefits.