Bill Text: TX SB1640 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 1640

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the Texas workers' compensation system by remote communication.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-16 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB1640 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB1640-Introduced.html

	88R4074 RDS-F

	By: Zaffirini	S.B. No. 1640



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the
	Texas workers' compensation system by remote communication.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 410.005(a), Labor Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a) Subject to Section 410.0055, unless [~~Unless~~] the
	division determines that good cause exists for the selection of a
	different location, a contested case hearing may not be conducted
	at a site more than 75 miles from the claimant's residence at the
	time of the injury.
	SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 410, Labor Code, is
	amended by adding Section 410.0055 to read as follows:
	Sec. 410.0055. CONDUCTING CERTAIN CONTESTED CASE HEARINGS
	BY REMOTE COMMUNICATION. (a) This section applies only to a
	contested case hearing in which the insurance carrier is:
	(1) the State Office of Risk Management;
	(2) The Texas A&M University System;
	(3) the Texas Department of Transportation; or
	(4) The University of Texas System.
	(b) The division shall conduct a contested case hearing to
	which this section applies telephonically or by videoconference on
	a showing by the insurance carrier or the carrier's representative
	that conducting the hearing in that manner would reduce the costs
	incurred by this state, including in employee time, resulting from
	travel to and from the hearing location.
	SECTION 3. Section 410.0055, Labor Code, as added by this
	Act, applies to a contested case hearing requested on or after the
	effective date of this Act. A contested case hearing requested
	before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
	effect on the date the contested case hearing was requested, and the
	former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.