BILL NUMBER: SB 1785	CHAPTERED  09/07/00

	CHAPTER   318
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 7, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 4, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 18, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 7, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 22, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 25, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Figueroa
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Longville and Washington)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2000

   An act to amend Section 138.6 of the Labor Code, relating to
workers' compensation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1785, Figueroa.  Workers' compensation:  data collection:
standards.
   Existing law requires the administrative director of the Division
of Workers' Compensation to develop a cost-efficient workers'
compensation information system that is compatible with the
Electronic Data Interchange System of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions.
   This bill would permit the administrative director to authorize
data providers to use other nationally recognized standards for the
transmission of data in addition to those set forth in the Electronic
Data Interchange System. The bill would also permit the
administrative director to adopt regulations to eliminate the use of
any authorized data transmission format, including those set forth in
the Electronic Data Interchange System format and those authorized
by regulation, when the director determines that the format is not in
general use by claims administrators, conflicts with the
requirements of state or federal law, or is obsolete.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 138.6 of the Labor Code is amended to read:
   138.6.  (a) The administrative director, in consultation with the
Insurance Commissioner and the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating
Bureau, shall develop a cost-efficient workers' compensation
information system, which shall be administered by the division.  The
administrative director shall adopt regulations specifying the data
elements to be collected by electronic data interchange.
   (b) The information system shall do the following:
   (1) Assist the department to manage the workers' compensation
system in an effective and efficient manner.
   (2) Facilitate the evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness
of the benefit delivery system.
   (3) Assist in measuring how adequately the system indemnifies
injured workers and their dependents.
   (4) Provide statistical data for research into specific aspects of
the workers' compensation program.
   (c) The data collected electronically shall be compatible with the
Electronic Data Interchange System of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. The administrative
director may adopt regulations authorizing the use of other
nationally recognized data transmission formats in addition to those
set forth in the Electronic Data Interchange System for the
transmission of data required pursuant to this section.  The
administrative director shall accept data transmissions in any
authorized format.  If the administrative director determines that
any authorized data transmission format is not in general use by
claims administrators, conflicts with the requirements of state or
federal law, or is obsolete, the administrative director may adopt
regulations eliminating that data transmission format from those
authorized pursuant to this subdivision.