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Senate Bill 908 |
Senate Author: Brimer |
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Effective: 9-1-07 |
House Sponsor: McClendon |
Senate Bill 908 amends the Labor Code to continue the State Office of Risk Management to September 1, 2019, to incorporate various new and revised across-the-board sunset provisions relating to the office, and to provide for the confidentiality of state employees' workers' compensation claim files. The bill requires the office to provide state agencies with return-to-work coordination services to facilitate injured employees' resumption of duties. The office must collect data on lost time and return-to-work outcomes, by state agency, and must include that information in its biennial report to the legislature. The bill requires the office and each agency to work together to develop a business continuity plan outlining procedures to keep the agency operational in case of disruptions to production, finance, administration, or other essential operation. Related information likewise must be included in the report to the legislature. The bill requires the office to study options to prepare state agencies for catastrophic claims and to report its findings to the legislature not later than September 1, 2008. Other Labor Code provisions require the office and the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC) to adopt a memorandum of understanding relating to the sharing of safety-related information. The bill amends the Government Code to require the TBPC and state fire marshal to include the office in all communications concerning fire hazards.