What's happening
This bill requires workers’ compensation hearings to be held within 45 days of a claim or application being filed.
Why it matters
Faster hearing schedules could reduce financial and emotional strain. for injured workers who are awaiting decisions, helping them access benefits more quickly and reducing uncertainty.
Employers and insurers may need to respond to claims more promptly. , as the 45-day hearing deadline accelerates the initial stages of dispute resolution, potentially impacting their administrative processes and costs.
The bill aims to streamline the workers’ compensation process overall. , which could decrease backlogs in the system, improving efficiency and case throughput for all parties involved.
Clearer statutory deadlines for hearings may reduce opportunities for procedural delays. , promoting fairer and more predictable outcomes for both employees and employers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Speed Up Compensation Hearings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
20 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Faster Workers’ Comp Hearings
In Senate Committee · Labor · Sponsor Marisol Alcantara
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6589
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MAYER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to hearings for determination of claims for compensation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 20 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by chapter 635 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
1. At any time after the expiration of the first seven days of disability on the part of an injured employee, or at any time after the employee's death, a claim for compensation may be presented to the employer or to the chair. The board shall have full power and authority to determine all questions in relation to the payment of claims presented to it for compensation under the provisions of this chapter. The chair or board shall make or cause to be made such investigation as it deems necessary, and upon application of either party, shall order a hearing within forty-five days after the filing of a claim by an injured employee, and thereafter shall order a hearing within forty-five days of receipt of an application by either party, and within thirty days after a claim for compensation is submitted under this section, or such hearing closed, shall make or deny an award, determining such claim for compensation, and file the same in the office of the chair. Immediately after such filing the chair shall send to the parties a copy of the decision. Upon a hearing pursuant to this section either party may present evidence and be represented by counsel. The decision of the board shall be final as to all questions of fact, and, except as provided in section twenty-three of this article, as to all questions of law. Except as provided in section twenty-seven of this article, all awards of the board shall draw simple interest from thirty days after the making thereof at the rate provided in section five thousand four of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09881-01-7
A. 6589 2
the civil practice law and rules. Whenever a hearing or proceeding for the determination of a claim for compensation is begun before a referee, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, such hearing or proceeding or any adjourned hearing thereon shall continue before the same referee until a final determination awarding or denying compensation, except in the absence, inability or disqualification to act of such referee, or for other good cause, in which event such hearing or proceeding may be continued before another referee by order of the chair or board.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.