BILL NUMBER: S4832

SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to requiring
the workers' compensation board to submit a supplemental report every
year thereafter

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to require the workers' compensation board
to deliver a supplemental report to the Legislature and Governor on the
status of and methods to modernize such board.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would require the workers' compensation board to
deliver a supplemental report to the Legislature and Governor on the
first day of February, 2025, and every year thereafter, on the status of
and methods to modernize such board, including: Other total number of
claimants who have filed a claim before such board and the total number
              

of claims in which an award or decision, or court order, was made;

*the average length of time between the time a claimant files a claim to
such board and the time an award or decision, or court order, is made in
regards to such claim;

*the number of claims in which the time to an award or decision, or
court order, was greater than the average time and reasons why; and,

*the number of claims in which frivolous appeals were made by an employ-
er.

Section 2 of this bill would provide that this bill shall take effect
immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 1914, the State established the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB),
which is a no-fault worker compensation system for such workers who are
injured or killed on the job. Prior to the establishment of the WCB,
injured workers would have to sue their employer in the courts, which
was ineffective and often did not work. The WCB is tasked with protect-
ing the rights of employees and to ensure the proper delivery of bene-
fits.

The WCB has a long, storied history of protecting workers who through no
fault of their own are injured. However, like in all systems that age
over time, the WCB has become a cumbersome, byzantine, and confusing
system for New Yorkers to navigate. The last time the WCB was updated
was in 2007, sixteen years ago. Often, the WCB is difficult to work
with, or confusing to operate, or jammed up with frivolous appeals that
disenfranchise workers from receiving the benefits they deserve.  There-
fore, it is important for the Legislature to review the WCB's work from
time to time to ensure that it's operating properly.  Currently, the WCB
is required to submit an annual report to the Governor detailing the
work it has done in hearing and deciding cases. However, the statute is
quite limited in scope. Requiring the WCB to release a more detailed
supplemental report, in addition to the existing annual report, will
allow the Legislature and public to have a broader sense of the work the
WCB conducts, limiting confusion and increasing transparency. This bill
would require the WCB to release an annual report on the status of and
methods to modernize the WCB.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: 57838 (Mannion) - Passed Senate.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.