SRC-JJJ H.B. 3493 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3493
By: Dunnam (Moncrief)
Economic Development
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

The Labor Code provides a formal dispute resolution process to resolve
benefit-related disagreements between injured employees and their
employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier. A contested case
hearing is a part of that process. The hearing is conducted by an employee
of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (commission).  H.B. 3493
would require the insurance carrier to file with the hearing officer, at
each contested hearing, as applicable, and to deliver to the claimant a
single document stating the true corporate name of the insurance carrier
and the name and address of the insurance carrier's registered agent for
service of process. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3493 establishes provisions regarding certain insurance
carrier information required in workers' compensation proceedings. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 410.164, Labor Code, by adding Subsection (c), to
require the insurance carrier to file with the hearing officer, at each
contested hearing, as applicable, and requires the insurance carrier to
deliver to the claimant a single document stating the true corporate name
of the insurance carrier and the name and address of the insurance
carrier's registered agent for service of process. Provides that the
document is part of the record of the contested hearing.  

SECTION 2. Amends Section 410.204, Labor Code, by adding Subsection (d), to
require each final decision of the appeals panel hearing a workers'
compensation claim to conclude with a separate paragraph that states
certain information. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. 
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.