Source: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/billhtml/HB0592.htm
Timestamp: 2017-10-19 11:05:27
Document Index: 76793548

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 4', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1']

Montana HB 592
INTRODUCED BY C. HIBBARD, S. BARTLETT, S. ANDERSON, D. GRIMES, T. KEATING, W. MCNUTT, D. MOOD, S. ROSE, P. SLITER, F. THOMAS, B. WILSON
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10 TO REVISE THE PROCESSES FOR RESOLVING EMPLOYMENT-RELATED DISPUTES; ELIMINATING THE APPELLATE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF PERSONNEL APPEALS IN REVIEWING WAGE CLAIM DISPUTES; PROVIDING FOR THE APPEAL OF DEPARTMENT HEARINGS EXAMINERS' DECISIONS IN WAGE CLAIMS CASES TO THE DISTRICT COURT; ESTABLISHING A TIMEFRAME FOR RECOVERY OF IMPROPERLY PAID WAGES; TRANSFERRING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT ISSUES ARISING UNDER THE OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE ACT, THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT, AND THE APPLICATION OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS; AUTHORIZING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT TO COLLECT A PENALTY FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFIT THEFT; REQUIRING THAT CASES INVOLVING WAGE AND HOUR, THE UNINSURED EMPLOYER FUND, AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ISSUES INCLUDE MEDIATION PRIOR TO CONTESTED CASE PROCEEDINGS; PROVIDING A COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL PROVISION TO PROHIBIT DECISIONS PERTAINING TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS FROM BEING USED IN RELATED DISPUTES; AMENDING SECTIONS 15-30-248, 39-3-201, 39-3-207, 39-3-212, 39-3-216, 39-9-401, 39-51-310, 39-51-1109, 39-71-304, 39-71-315, 39-71-316, 39-71-317, 39-71-401, 39-71-415, 39-71-601, 39-71-610, 39-71-613, 39-71-704, 39-71-1032, 39-72-403, 39-72-601, 39-72-602, 39-72-607, AND 39-72-608, MCA; REPEALING SECTIONS 39-3-217, 39-72-609, 39-72-610, 39-72-611, 39-72-612, AND 39-72-613, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.
WHEREAS, Montana's current employment statutes constitute a complex and often confusing body of law requiring specialized skills and knowledge to interpret; and
WHEREAS, most employers in the private sector employ 10 or fewer employees and function without the assistance of personnel officers or in-house legal staff; and
WHEREAS, employment-related disputes are currently heard in many different forums, including the Board of Personnel Appeals for wage and hour issues, the Board of Labor Appeals for unemployment insurance issues, the Workers' Compensation Court for workers' compensation issues, the Commission for Human Rights for discrimination issues, and District Courts for the resolution of wrongful discharge conflicts; and
WHEREAS, the 1997 Legislature enacted House Joint Resolution No. 10, which directed the Department of Labor and Industry to convene a group of interested parties to explore, investigate, and report to the 1999 Legislature optional approaches to an integrated dispute resolution process for employment-related issues; and
WHEREAS, members of the Legislature and interest groups, including employers and employees from the private and public sectors, formed the House Joint Resolution No. 10 work group, which convened in September 1997 to begin studying the issues related to the employment dispute resolution process; and
WHEREAS, after approximately 10 meetings during the 1997 interim, the work group issued its report in November 1998, recommending that legislation be prepared for consideration by the 1999 Legislature to revise the dispute resolution process for employment-related issues.
Section 1. Section 15-30-248, MCA, is amended to read:
"15-30-248. Determination of employer status. A final determination by either the department of labor and industry or the board of labor appeals workers' compensation court that an employer-employee relationship existed between the taxpayer and certain individuals subjecting the taxpayer to the requirements of chapter 30, part 2, which may be subject to judicial review, as provided in 39-51-2404, at the discretion of the taxpayer, is not subject to any further administrative or judicial challenge in any proceeding before or with the department of revenue concerning a determination of the proper amount of state income tax withholding and old fund liability tax to be paid. A final decision of the workers' compensation court may be appealed as provided in 39-71-2904."
Section 2. Section 39-3-201, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-3-201. Definitions. The following are the definitions used for the purpose of this part:
(1) "Board" means the board of personnel appeals provided for in 2-15-1705.
(2)(1) "Commissioner of labor" refers to the director, commissioner, or chief of the department of labor and industry, as the department is defined by law, or any person or persons designated by the director, commissioner, or chief for the purpose of this part.
(3)(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industry as provided for in 2-15-1701.
(4)(3) "Employ" means to permit or suffer to work.
(5)(4) "Employee" includes any person who works for another for hire.
(6)(5) "Employer" includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, legal representative, or organized group of persons acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee but does not include the United States.
(7)(6) (a) "Wages" includes any money due an employee from the employer or employers, whether to be paid by the hour, day, week, semimonthly, monthly, or yearly, and includes bonus, piecework, and all tips and gratuities that are covered by section 3402(k) and service charges that are covered by section 3401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and applicable on January 1, 1983, received by employees for services rendered by them to patrons of premises or businesses licensed to provide food, beverage, or lodging.
(b) For the purposes of this subsection (7) (6), "service charge" means an arbitrary fixed charge added to the customer's bill by an employer in lieu of a tip. It is collected by the employer and must be distributed directly to the nonmanagement employee preparing or serving the food or beverage or to any other employee involved in related services, pursuant to a tip pool agreement."
Section 3. Section 39-3-207, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-3-207. Period within which employee may recover wages and penalties. Any (1) An employee may recover all such wages and penalties as are provided for the violation of 39-3-206 which have accrued to him at any time within 18 months succeeding such default or delay in the payment of such wages by filing a complaint within 180 days of default or delay in the payment of wages.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), an employee may recover wages and penalties for a period of 2 years prior to the date on which the claim is filed if the employee is still employed by the employer or for a period of 2 years prior to the date of the employee's last date of employment.
(3) If an employer has engaged in repeated violations, an employee may recover wages and penalties for a period of 3 years from the date on which a claim is filed if the employee is still employed by the employer or for a period of 3 years prior to the date of the employee's last date of employment."
Section 4. Section 39-3-212, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-3-212. Court enforcement of administrative decision. (1) A department default order, or a decision of the hearings officer, if the decision is not appealed to the board, or a decision of the board, if judicial review is not sought, may be enforced by application by the commissioner to a district court for an order or judgment enforcing the decision. The commissioner shall apply to the district court where the employer has its principal place of business or in the first judicial district of the state. A proceeding under this section is not a review of the validity of the administrative decision.
(2) If judicial review is sought, the district court may issue an order or a judgment enforcing the decision of the board department or the hearings officer in a wage claim proceeding. In a case involving failure to pay the standard prevailing rate of wages provided for in Title 18, chapter 2, part 4, the district court may issue an order or a judgment enforcing the decision of the hearings officer."
Section 5. Section 39-3-216, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-3-216. Hearing Mediation -- hearing. (1) If the department determines that a wage claim is valid and the employer does not appeal the determination, the department may enter a default order against the employer for the amount of wages due and for any penalty assessed pursuant to 39-3-206. The department may enforce the default order pursuant to 39-3-212.
(2)(3) When the department determines that a wage claim is valid, the department shall mail the determination to the parties at the last-known address of each party. If a party appeals the department's determination within 15 days after the determination is mailed by the department, a hearing must be conducted according to contested case procedures under Title 2, chapter 4, part 6, except that service need not be made as prescribed for civil actions in the district court and the hearings officer is not bound by statutory or common-law rules of evidence. The hearing may be conducted by telephone or by videoconference. The department shall by rule provide relief for a person who does not receive the determination by mail.
(3)(4) The decision of the hearings officer is final unless further review is initiated pursuant to 39-3-217 within 15 days after the decision is mailed to each party's last-known address. The period may be extended by the board for good cause an aggrieved party requests a rehearing or initiates judicial review, pursuant to Title 2, chapter 4, part 7, by filing a petition in district court within 30 days of the date of mailing of the hearings officer's decision."
Section 6. Section 39-9-401, MCA, is amended to read:
Section 7. Collateral estoppel. A finding of fact or law, judgment, conclusion, or final order made with respect to a determination made under this chapter may not be conclusive or binding or used as evidence in any separate or subsequent action or proceeding in another forum except for proceedings under this chapter, regardless of whether the prior action was between the same or related parties or involved the same facts.
Section 8. Section 39-51-310, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-51-310. Function of board. The board shall act in a quasi-judicial capacity for the hearing of disputes concerning the administration of Montana's unemployment insurance laws and disputes arising under Title 39, chapter 71, not concerning benefits, regarding whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor as defined in that chapter."
Section 9. Section 39-51-1109, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-51-1109. Tax appeals -- procedure. (1) A decision, determination, or redetermination of the department involving an employer-employee relationship or the charging of benefit payments to employers is final unless an interested party entitled to notification submits a written appeal of the decision, determination, or redetermination. The appeal must be made in the same manner as provided in 39-51-2402 for the appeal of a decision relating to a claim for unemployment insurance benefits. Statutory rules of evidence and civil procedure do not apply to a hearing on the appeal. A hearing may be conducted by telephone or by videoconference. The decision of the appeals referee and any subsequent appeal must be made in the same manner as prescribed in 39-51-2403 through 39-51-2410 39-71-415.
(2) A decision, determination, or redetermination involving contribution liability, contribution rate, application for refund, subject wages, or other tax-related issues must be issued by the department of revenue as provided in Title 15, chapter 1, part 2, and 15-30-257, if applicable. The decision is final unless an interested party entitled to notification follows the uniform tax review procedures as prescribed in 15-1-211 and 15-30-257, if applicable."
Section 10. Section 39-71-304, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-304. Books, records, and payrolls to be open to inspection -- penalty for refusal -- subpoenas. (1) The books, records, and payrolls of an employer pertinent to the administration of this chapter must always be open to inspection by the department or any duly authorized employee thereof of the department for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of the payroll, the number of workers employed, and such other information as that may be necessary for the department and its management under this chapter. Refusal on the part of an employer to submit the books, records, and payrolls for such inspection shall will subject the offending employer to a penalty not exceeding $500 for each offense, to be collected through a civil workers' compensation court action in the name of the state and paid into the state treasury.
(2) In addition to the remedy provided in subsection (1), the department may issue subpoenas and compel testimony for the production of evidence, including books, records, papers, documents, and other objects as may be necessary and proper in regard to any investigation or proceeding under this chapter. In the case of disobedience of a subpoena issued and served or the refusal of a witness to testify as to any matter for which the witness may be interrogated in a proceeding before the department, the department may apply to a district the workers' compensation court for an order to compel compliance with the subpoena or testimony. Disobedience of the court's order constitutes contempt of court."
Section 11. Section 39-71-315, MCA, is amended to read:
(3) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to medical services provided to an injured worker by a treating physician with an ownership interest in a managed care organization that has been certified by the department."
Section 12. Section 39-71-316, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-316. Filing true claim -- obtaining benefits through deception or other fraudulent means. (1) A person filing a claim under this chapter or chapter 72 or this chapter of this title, by signing the claim, affirms the information filed is true and correct to the best of that person's knowledge.
(2) (a) A person who obtains or assists in obtaining benefits to which the person is not entitled or who obtains or assists another person in obtaining benefits to which the other person is not entitled under this chapter or chapter 72 or this chapter of this title is guilty of theft and may be prosecuted under 45-6-301. A county attorney or the attorney general may initiate criminal proceedings against the person. This subsection includes but is not limited to a person who is receiving temporary total disability benefits, permanent total disability benefits, or rehabilitation benefits while working without the knowledge and concurrence of the insurer.
(3) (a) The department may require a person convicted of theft under 45-6-301(5) to pay to the department an amount equal to 10 times the amount paid by an insurer on the false claim, provided that the amount does not exceed $50,000. If upon demand of the department the person refuses to pay the fine, the department may institute suit petition the workers' compensation court to collect the money owed.
(4) A person licensed under the provisions of Title 37 is subject to suspension, revocation, or denial of a license if the person knowingly claims or assists in the claiming of benefits in violation of the provisions of chapter 72 or this chapter."
Section 13. Section 39-71-317, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-317. Employer not to terminate worker for filing claim -- preference -- jurisdiction over dispute. (1) An employer may not use as grounds for terminating a worker the filing of a claim under this chapter or chapter 72 of this title or this chapter. The district court has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes concerning the grounds for termination under this section.
(4) The department and workers' compensation court do not have has exclusive jurisdiction to administer or resolve a dispute concerning the reemployment preference under this section. Exclusive jurisdiction is with the district court A dispute concerning the reemployment preference is not subject to mediation or a contested case hearing."
Section 14. Section 39-71-401, MCA, is amended to read:
(iv) the officer or manager is the spouse, child, adopted child, stepchild, mother, father, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, nephew, niece, brother, or sister of a corporate officer who meets the requirements of subsection (2)(q)(iii)(A) or (2)(q)(iii)(B).
(s) service performed by an ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church in the exercise of the church's ministry or by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by the order.
(f) If the department denies the application for exemption, the applicant may, after mediation pursuant to department rules, contest the denial by petitioning for review of the decision by an appeals referee in the manner provided for in 39-51-1109 the workers' compensation court. An applicant dissatisfied with the decision of the appeals referee may appeal the decision in accordance with the procedure established in 39-51-2403 and 39-51-2404.
Section 15. Section 39-71-415, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-415. Procedure for resolving disputes regarding independent contractor status. (1) If an individual, employer, or insurer has a dispute as to whether an individual is an independent contractor or an employee as defined in this chapter, any party may, after mediation pursuant to department rules, petition a department of labor and industry appeals referee for resolution of the dispute in accordance with 39-51-1109 and may appeal from a decision of the appeals referee in the same manner as prescribed in 39-51-2403 and 39-51-2404 the workers' compensation court for resolution of the dispute.
Section 16. Section 39-71-601, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-601. Statute of limitation on presentment of claim -- waiver. (1) In case of personal injury or death, all claims must be forever barred unless signed by the claimant or the claimant's representative and presented in writing to the employer, the insurer, or the department, as the case may be, within 12 months from the date of the happening of the accident, either by the claimant or someone legally authorized to act on the claimant's behalf.
(2) The department insurer may waive the time requirement up to an additional 24 months upon a reasonable showing by the claimant of:
(3) Any dispute regarding the statute of limitations for filing time is considered a dispute that, after mediation pursuant to department rules, is subject to jurisdiction of the workers' compensation court."
Section 17. Section 39-71-610, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-610. Termination of benefits by insurer -- department order to pay disputed benefits prior to hearing or mediation -- limitation on order -- right of reimbursement. If an insurer terminates biweekly compensation benefits and the termination of compensation benefits is disputed by the claimant, the department may, upon written request, order an insurer to pay additional biweekly compensation benefits prior to a hearing before the workers' compensation court or prior to mediation, but in no event may the biweekly compensation benefits be ordered to be paid under this section for a period exceeding 49 days or for any period subsequent to the date of a the hearing or mediation. A party may appeal this order to the workers' compensation court. If after a hearing before the workers' compensation court it is held that the insurer was not liable for the compensation payments ordered by the department, the insurer has the right to be reimbursed for such the payments by the claimant."
Section 18. Section 39-71-613, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-613. Regulation of attorney fees -- forfeiture of fee for noncompliance -- return of fee when claimant received benefits through fraud or deception. (1) When an attorney represents or acts on behalf of a claimant or any other party on any workers' compensation claim, the attorney shall submit to the department a contract of employment, on a form provided by the department, stating specifically the terms of the fee arrangement between the attorney and the claimant.
(2) The department may regulate the amount of the attorney fees in any workers' compensation case. In regulating the amount of the fee fees, the department shall consider:
(a) the benefits the claimant gained due to the efforts of the attorney;
(b) the time the attorney was required to spend on the case;
(c) the complexity of the case; and
(d) any other relevant matter the department may consider appropriate.
(3) An attorney who violates a provision of this section, a rule adopted under this section, or an order fixing attorney fees under this section forfeits the right to any fee fees that the attorney collected or was entitled to collect.
(4) If, after an attorney receives attorney fees and costs assessed against an insurer, the claimant is convicted of having obtained benefits through fraud or deception, the attorney fees and costs for obtaining the benefits must be returned to the insurer by the attorney.
(5) A dispute concerning the forfeiture or return of attorney fees is considered a dispute for which the workers' compensation court has original jurisdiction and is not subject to mediation or a contested case hearing."
Section 19. Section 39-71-704, MCA, is amended to read:
(ii) when necessary to monitor the status of a prosthetic device.; or
(g)(iii) If when the worker's treating physician believes that palliative or maintenance the care that would otherwise not be compensable under subsection (1)(f) is appropriate to enable the worker to continue current employment or that there is a clear probability of returning the worker to employment, the treating physician shall first request approval from the insurer for the treatment. If approval is not granted, the treating physician may request approval from the department for the treatment. The department shall appoint a panel of physicians, including at least one treating physician from the area of specialty in which the injured worker is being treated, pursuant to rules that the department may adopt, to review the proposed treatment and determine its appropriateness. A dispute regarding the compensability of palliative or maintenance care is considered a dispute over which, after mediation pursuant to department rule, the workers' compensation court has jurisdiction.
(h)(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the department, by rule and upon the advice of the professional licensing boards of practitioners affected by the rule, may exclude from compensability any medical treatment that the department finds to be unscientific, unproved, outmoded, or experimental.
Section 20. Section 39-71-1032, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-71-1032. Termination of benefits for noncooperation with rehabilitation provider -- department hearing and appeal. (1) If an insurer believes that a worker is refusing unreasonably to cooperate with the rehabilitation provider, the insurer, with 14 days' written notice to the worker and the department, may terminate any benefits, except medical benefits and the impairment award, that the worker is receiving until the worker cooperates.
(2) The worker may contest the insurer's termination of benefits by filing a written exception to the department within 20 working days after the date of the 14-day notice. The worker or insurer may request a hearing before the department. The department shall hold a hearing within 30 days of receipt of the request. The department shall issue an order within 15 days of the hearing If the worker disputes the termination of benefits, the worker may, after mediation pursuant to department rule, petition the workers' compensation court for resolution of the dispute.
Section 21. Section 39-72-403, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-72-403. Time when claims must be presented. (1) When a claimant seeks benefits under this chapter, the claimant's claims for benefits must be presented in writing to the employer, the employer's insurer, or the department within 1 year from the date the claimant knew or should have known that the claimant's condition resulted from an occupational disease. When a beneficiary seeks benefits under this chapter, claims for death benefits must be presented in writing to the employer, the employer's insurer, or the department within 1 year from the date the beneficiaries knew or should have known that the decedent's death was related to an occupational disease.
(2) The department insurer may, upon a reasonable showing by the claimant or a decedent's beneficiaries that the claimant or the beneficiaries could not have known that the claimant's condition or the employee's death was related to an occupational disease, waive the claim time requirement up to an additional 2 years.
(3) Any dispute regarding a claim filing time is considered a dispute that, after mediation pursuant to department rule, is subject to jurisdiction of the workers' compensation court."
Section 22. Section 39-72-601, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-72-601. Medical panel evaluators. (1) The department shall develop a list of physicians to serve on the as occupational disease medical panel evaluators. The list may include physicians nominated by the board of medical examiners. A physician on the panel An evaluator must be certified by the physician's specialty board or be eligible for certification in the specialty area appropriate to the claimant's condition in relation to this chapter.
(2) The department shall select a panel physician an evaluator to examine a claimant, as required. The department shall appoint, as required, a physician as the presiding officer."
Section 23. Section 39-72-602, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-72-602. Insurer may accept liability -- procedure for medical examination when insurer has not accepted liability. (1) An insurer may accept liability for a claim under this chapter based on information submitted to it by a claimant.
(a) The department shall direct the claimant to a member of the medical panel an evaluator on the list of physicians for an examination. The panel member evaluator shall conduct an examination to determine whether the claimant is totally disabled and is suffering from an occupational disease. In the case of a fatality, the evaluator shall examine the records to determine if the death was caused by an occupational disease. The panel member evaluator shall submit a report of the member's findings to the department.
(b) Either the claimant or the insurer may, within 20 days after the receipt of the report by the first panel member, request that the claimant be examined by a second panel member. If a second examination is requested, the department shall direct the claimant to a second panel member who shall conduct an examination to determine whether the claimant is totally disabled and is suffering from an occupational disease. The panel member shall submit a report of the member's findings to the department. The medical panel member may, in order to reach a conclusion, consult with the claimant's attending physician. The reports from the two examining physicians must be sent by the department to the presiding officer of the panel. The presiding officer shall issue a report concerning the claimant's physical condition and whether the claimant is suffering from an occupational disease Within 7 working days of receipt, the department shall mail the report of the evaluator's findings to the insurer and claimant.
(ii) If a second examination is requested, the department shall issue its order based on the report of the presiding officer. If the panel presiding officer has examined the claimant, the department shall appoint another presiding officer Upon receipt of the report, if a dispute exists over initial compensability of an occupational disease, it is considered a dispute that, after mediation pursuant to department rule, is subject to the jurisdiction of the workers' compensation court."
Section 24. Section 39-72-607, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-72-607. Periodic medical examinations. (1) Upon the request of the department or the insurer, each employee entitled to compensation shall submit to a medical examination from time to time by a physician designated by the department who is a member of the appropriate medical panel an evaluator on the department's list of physicians. The examination shall must be at a place reasonably convenient for the employee.
(2) The order directing the examination shall must fix a time and place having regard to the convenience of the employee, his the employee's physical condition, and his the employee's ability to attend. The employee and any other party in interest may have a physician present at the examination if the physician is provided and paid for by the employee or other party.
(3) If the employee refuses to submit to the examination or obstructs the examination, his the employee's right to compensation is suspended until the examination has been made, and no compensation is not payable during or for the period of suspension.
(4) A physician who makes or is present at the examination may be required to testify as to the result thereof of the examination."
Section 25. Section 39-72-608, MCA, is amended to read:
"39-72-608. Payment of medical examination, report, and autopsy expenses. The expense of the first medical examination and report, as provided in 39-72-602, must be borne paid by the insurer. The expense of a reexamination and panel report must be borne by the dissatisfied party requesting the reexamination. The expense of the periodic medical examinations and reports, as provided in 39-72-607, must be borne paid by the party requesting the periodic medical examination. The expense of the autopsy, as provided for in 39-72-606, must be borne paid by the party requesting the autopsy. When the occupational disease causes death, the expense of any examinations and reports, as provided in 39-72-605, must be borne paid by the party requesting the examination."
Section 26. Repealer. Sections 39-3-217, 39-72-609, 39-72-610, 39-72-611, 39-72-612, and 39-72-613, MCA, are repealed.
Section 27. Codification instruction. [Section 7] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 39, chapter 51, part 1, and the provisions of Title 39, chapter 51, part 1, apply to [section 7].
Section 29. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
Section 30. Applicability. [Sections 3 and 5] apply to claims accruing on or after [the effective date of this act].
Section 31. Retroactive applicability. (1) [Sections 14 through 20] apply retroactively, within the meaning of 1-2-109, to claims for injuries occurring before [the effective date of this act] unless a party elects, after notification by the department of labor and industry, to remain in the contested case process.
(2) [Sections 21 through 25] apply retroactively, within the meaning of 1-2-109, to occupational diseases occurring before [the effective date of this act] unless a party elects, after notification by the department of labor and industry, to remain in the contested case process.
Latest Version of HB 592 (HB0592.ENR)