SB 1074 - Under current law, employers must post notice in their place of employment stating that employees must report occupational illnesses or disease within 30 days of the time he or she is reasonably aware of the injury or illness. This act changes the requirement to state that the report must occur within 30 days after the diagnosis of the condition. The act also deletes references to "legal advisors" for the purposes of approval of entering settlements.
The act no longer requires offers of settlement to be made in writing and filed with the division by the employer. Under current law, when an offer for settlement is not accepted and additional proceedings are necessary, the employee is entitled to 100% of the amount initially offered. This act removes this requirement.
The act removes the definition for "amount in dispute" and requires that an offer of payment of any benefits in addition to an offer of settlement shall not be construed as an admission of liability.
Associative administrative law judges and legal advisors are relieved of their authority to construe workers' compensation provisions and weighing evidence to resolve factual conflicts.
CHRIS HOGERTY