IWC's bills failed in the 2003 session. Much
of the blame falls squarely on "appointed" Management-Labor
Advisory Committee members whose majority either voted
against or refused to hear the bills.
Former Governor
Kitzhaber disbanded the former MLAC and appointed its
present members under the guise that they check the system's "fairness
thermostat." At the time, a pre-2000 and current member said
MLAC "broke
down." Please contact Governor Kulongoski
to share your opinion of the current MLAC. Also
contact your legislators at 1-800-332-2313 or
use a form at http://www.capitolconnect.com/oregon/.
It's our hope that
all who read this immediately become actively involved
in our efforts as that will bring suceess
in the 2005 legislative session. Contact us,
along with your senator, representative,
television and radio stations, and newspapers.
Senate
Bills
|
.pdf
|
|
.htm
|
|
A
Bill Relating to: |
|
|
Status |
|
|
|
|
|
Senate
Bill 802—Disability Benefits/Notification Process/Reconsideration
Proceedings |
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senate
Bill 812—Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs)
and Attending Physicians |
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senate
Bill 654—Increased Vocational
Retraining |
|
|
6
|
1 |
|
Awaiting
introduction. |
2 |
|
Introduced
and has had first reading. Referred to Senate President
Courtney for approval [not guaranteed] and
to be assigned to a Committee. |
3 |
|
Awaiting acceptance
by Senate Business & Labor Committee Chair Sen. David Nelson.
Contact the Committee. |
4 |
|
Awaiting
approval by MLAC. |
5 |
|
Although
MLAC was told of the bill, they ignored
it. Committee Chair David
Nelson (R-Pendleton) used MLAC's
non-approval to refuse hearings even though no law
exists mandating MLAC approval. |
6 |
|
The majority
of governor appointed MLAC members voted against the bill.
They did appoint a subcommittee during the interim
to study the issue. They also directed the Workers' Compensation Division to survey injured workers and others about the exams. Please contact the governor and
your senator.
Ask
why MLAC has so much power and demand a change in
members or concrete subcommittee action.
11/29/04 Update: Only two members agreed to join the committee and in 18 months no meeting has been held.
11/29/04 Update: The survey results verified examiner dishonesty and cruel treatment against the injured. Please take our survey so we can further document abuses. |
The
first three bills below have Senate counterparts,
though they differ in some way.
House
Bills
|
.pdf
|
|
.htm
|
|
A
Bill Relating to: |
|
Status |
|
|
|
|
|
House
Bill 3538—Disability Benefits/Notification
Process/Reconsideration Proceedings |
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
House
Bill 3591—Independent Medical Examinations
(IMEs) and Attending Physicians |
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
House
Bill 3589—Increased Vocational
Retraining |
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
House
Bill 3493—Public Hearings on Workers' Comp
Across Oregon in Late 2003 and Throughout 2004 |
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
House
Bill 3592—Discrimination and Other Illegal
Practices Directed Against Injured Workers [an
example] |
|
5
|
1 |
|
Awaiting
introduction. |
2 |
|
Introduced
and has had first reading. Referred to House Speaker
Minnis for approval and to be assigned
to a Committee. |
3 |
|
Awaiting
acceptance by House Business, Labor & Consumer
Affairs Committee Chair Rep.
Betsy Close. Contact House
Speaker Karen Minnis to
urge committee assignment. |
4 |
|
Awaiting
approval by MLAC. |
5 |
|
Although
MLAC was told of the bill, they ignored
it. Committee Chair Betsy
Close (R-Albany) used MLAC's
non-approval to refuse hearings even though no law
exists mandating MLAC approval. |
6 |
|
The
majority of governor appointed MLAC members
voted against the bill. They did appoint a subcommittee
during the interim to study the issue.
Please contact the governor and
your representative. Ask
why MLAC has so much power and demand a change in
members or concrete subcommittee action. |
The
Injured Worker Coalition (IWC) is workers and their
families-unionized
and otherwise--who have suffered at the hands of the
current workers' compensation system, who support
injured workers
and their families, and who believe we are one injury
away from losing all for which we have spent our lives
working. We are advocates for occupational safety
and health, as well. |
|