Senate Bill No. 292–Senator Schneider

 

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AN ACT relating to insurance; directing the Legislative Commission to appoint a committee to study the impact of Nevada’s industrial insurance program on injured workers, employers and insurers; authorizing the Commissioner of Insurance to conduct a study to review pricing mechanisms for medical professional liability insurance; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

    Section 1. The Legislative Commission shall appoint a

 committee consisting of six Legislators to conduct an interim study

 of the impact of Nevada’s industrial insurance program on injured

 workers, employers and insurers.

    2.  The Legislative Commission shall appoint to the committee

 three members of the Senate and three members of the Assembly

 who are acquainted with the statutory program for industrial

 insurance in this state.

    3.  The study must include, without limitation:

    (a) An examination of the procedures for resolving contested

 industrial insurance claims filed by injured workers, the costs to

 injured workers, employers and insurers in litigating such claims,

 the effect of the benefit penalty on the resolution of such claims,

 and the timeliness of resolving such claims;

    (b) Consideration of whether it is appropriate to reimburse

 injured workers for time off of work when they are receiving

 medical treatment for compensable industrial injuries or illnesses,

 including the cost of such reimbursement to employers and insurers

 and the impacts on injured workers of not making such

 reimbursement;

    (c) Consideration of whether it is appropriate to increase

 benefits retroactively to a claimant or dependant of a claimant who

 is entitled to receive compensation pursuant to chapters 616A to

 617, inclusive, of NRS for a permanent total disability caused by an

 industrial injury or a disablement from an occupational disease that

 occurs before July 1, 2004, and if so, consideration of the sources

 for paying for such increased benefits; and

    (d) A review of the impact of legislation enacted during the

 2003 Legislative Session on injured workers, employers and

 insurers.

    4.  In conducting the study, the committee shall seek

 information and suggestions from experts in the area of industrial

insurance and from various representatives of injured workers,

employers and insurers.

    5.  Any recommended legislation proposed by the committee

 must be approved by a majority of the members of the Senate and a

 majority of the members of the Assembly who are appointed to the

 committee.

    6.  The Legislative Commission shall submit a report of the

 results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to the

 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.

    Sec. 2.  1.  The Commissioner of Insurance may conduct a

 study to review pricing mechanisms for medical professional

 liability insurance.

    2.  If the Commissioner of Insurance conducts a study pursuant

 to this section, the Commissioner shall submit a report of the results

 of the study to the Governor and the Legislative Commission.

    Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

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