Workplace injury assistance-information and guidance.

Plain English Breakdown

The effectiveness of the dissemination method is not specified.

Workplace Injury Help and Information

This law requires the Department of Workforce Services to provide information and guidance about workplace injuries to employers and employees, including rights, responsibilities, administrative processes for resolving workers' compensation claims, financial assistance, rehabilitation programs, work placement services, and other social support options.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the director of the Department of Workforce Services to provide detailed information on workplace injury rights, responsibilities, and resources to employers and employees.
• Includes guidance on resolving workers' compensation claims and completing necessary forms for these processes.
• Lists available financial assistance, rehabilitation programs, work placement services, and other social support options.
• Requires the department to report annually about optional employer classifications related to workplace injury coverage.

Who It Names or Affects

• Employers who need information on handling workplace injuries and workers' compensation claims.
• Employees seeking guidance on their rights and responsibilities regarding workplace injuries.
• The Department of Workforce Services, which must provide this information and report annually.

Terms To Know

Worker's Compensation Act

A law that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job.

Optional Employers

Employers who choose to participate in certain workplace injury coverage programs.

Limits and Unknowns

• The effectiveness of the information and guidance provided by the Department of Workforce Services is not specified.
• It does not detail how the department will disseminate this information widely.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 22LSO-0169
Bill No.:

HB0125

Effective:

Multiple Dates

LSO No.:

22LSO-0169

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0019

Chapter No.:

26

Prime Sponsor:

Connolly

Catch Title:

Workplace injury assistance-information and guidance.

Subject:

Workplace injury assistance-information and guidance.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act requires the Director of the Department of Workforce services to provide information and guidance to employers and employees regarding workplace injuries and to widely disseminate information about the resources available to employers and employees under the bill.

The act requires the Director to provide information and guidance on specified topics, including the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees under the law, the administrative processes available for resolving workers' compensation claims when an employer and employee are subject to the Worker's Compensation Act, and available local, state and federal financial assistance, rehabilitation and work placement programs, as well as other social services that the director considers appropriate.

The act requires the Department of Workforces Services to submit, as part of its annual report under W.S. 27-14-201(c), information regarding employers and their classifications who have opted into coverage under the Worker's Compensation Act.

Comments:

Requires a report.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

22LSO-0169

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0125

ENROLLED ACT NO. 19,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2022 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to labor and employment; requiring the director of the department of workforce services to provide information and guidance to employers and employees regarding workplace injuries; requiring reporting; making a conforming amendment; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2602(b)(vi), (vii),

by creating a new paragraph (viii) and by creating a new subsection (d) and 27
‑
14
‑
801(e) by creating a new paragraph (iv) are amended to read:

9
‑
2
‑
2602.

Director of department; appointment; removal; duties.

(b)

The director shall:

(vi)

Promulgate reasonable rules and regulations in compliance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act;
and

(vii)

Appoint a separate administrator for each of the divisions of the department of workforce services and may discharge the administrators as provided in W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1706(c)(ii)
;
.

and

(viii)

Provide information and guidance to employers and employees regarding workplace injuries as specified under this paragraph. The director shall widely disseminate information about the resources available to employers and employees under this paragraph and shall provide information and guidance regarding:

(A)

The rights and responsibilities of employers and employees under the law;

(B)

The administrative processes available for resolving workers' compensation claims when an employer and employee are subject to the Worker's Compensation Act;

(C)

The completion of forms required under any applicable administrative process;

(D)

Available local, state and federal financial assistance, rehabilitation and work placement programs, as well as other social services that the director considers appropriate; and

(E)

Available liability insurance or industrial insurance providers offering coverage for self
‑
insured employers.

(d)

Not later than October 2 of each year, the department shall include information regarding optional employers and their classifications in the report required under W.S. 27
‑
14
‑
201(c).

27
‑
14
‑
801.

Duties of director.

(e)

The director shall:

(iv)

Provide information and guidance to employers and employees as provided by W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
2602(b)(viii).

Section 2.

The director of the department of workforce services shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act on or before July 1, 2022.

Section 3.

(a)

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2022.

(b)

Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1