exempt

                                                   (Reprinted with amendments adopted on June 2, 2003)

 

Senate Bill No. 292–Senator Schneider

 

March 14, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Commission to appoint committee to study impact of Nevada’s industrial insurance program on injured workers, employers and insurers and authorizes Commissioner of Insurance to conduct study to review pricing mechanisms for medical professional liability insurance. (BDR S‑784)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: Yes.

                           Effect on the State: Yes.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

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:

 

1-1  Section 1. The Legislative Commission shall appoint a

1-2  committee consisting of six Legislators to conduct an interim study

1-3  of the impact of Nevada’s industrial insurance program on injured

1-4  workers, employers and insurers.

1-5  2.  The Legislative Commission shall appoint to the committee

1-6  three members of the Senate and three members of the Assembly

1-7  who are acquainted with the statutory program for industrial

1-8  insurance in this state.

1-9  3.  The study must include, without limitation:

2-1  (a) An examination of the procedures for resolving contested

2-2  industrial insurance claims filed by injured workers, the costs to

2-3  injured workers, employers and insurers in litigating such claims,

2-4  the effect of the benefit penalty on the resolution of such claims, and

2-5  the timeliness of resolving such claims;

2-6  (b) Consideration of whether it is appropriate to reimburse

2-7  injured workers for time off of work when they are receiving

2-8  medical treatment for compensable industrial injuries or illnesses,

2-9  including the cost of such reimbursement to employers and insurers

2-10  and the impacts on injured workers of not making such

2-11  reimbursement;

2-12      (c) Consideration of whether it is appropriate to increase

2-13  benefits retroactively to a claimant or dependant of a claimant who

2-14  is entitled to receive compensation pursuant to chapters 616A to

2-15  617, inclusive, of NRS for a permanent total disability caused by an

2-16  industrial injury or a disablement from an occupational disease that

2-17  occurs before July 1, 2004, and if so, consideration of the sources

2-18  for paying for such increased benefits; and

2-19      (d) A review of the impact of legislation enacted during the

2-20  2003 Legislative Session on injured workers, employers and

2-21  insurers.

2-22      4.  In conducting the study, the committee shall seek

2-23  information and suggestions from experts in the area of industrial

2-24  insurance and from various representatives of injured workers,

2-25  employers and insurers.

2-26      5.  Any recommended legislation proposed by the committee

2-27  must be approved by a majority of the members of the Senate and a

2-28  majority of the members of the Assembly who are appointed to the

2-29  committee.

2-30      6.  The Legislative Commission shall submit a report of the

2-31  results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to the

2-32  73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.

2-33      Sec. 2.  1.  The Commissioner of Insurance may conduct a

2-34  study to review pricing mechanisms for medical professional

2-35  liability insurance.

2-36      2.  If the Commissioner of Insurance conducts a study pursuant

2-37  to this section, the Commissioner shall submit a report of the results

2-38  of the study to the Governor and the Legislative Commission.

2-39      Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

2-40  H