10:15 Background (see page 2)

10:20 Goals, Objectives, and Timeline of the Current Project (see page 2)

1. Claim Form & Reverse Side (see pages A6-A7 of the Revised Draft Recommendations. What have been your experiences with injured workers using the claim form and reading the notice of potential eligibility for benefits, which is located on the reverse side of the claim form? In your opinion, what factors -- involving wording, design, or format -- should we explore in the upcoming discussion-group sessions?

2. Statement That Would Accompany Every Benefit Notice (see pages A1-A2). Factors to explore -- involving font style, design, or location of this statement?

3. Poster in the Workplace (see page A4). Your experiences? Factors to explore -- involving wording, design, or size of this poster?

4. Written Notice for New Employees (see pages A4-A5). Your experiences? Factors to explore -- involving content, wording, design, or format of this notice?

5. Comprehensive Guides (see pages A1-A4). Factors to explore -- involving content, wording, design, or format of a comprehensive guide?

1. Navigating the California Workers' Compensation System: The Injured Worker's Experience, July 1996.

2. Project To Design and Test Prototype Educational Materials (factsheets and video) for Workers, September 1998. Factsheet #3C, "Working After a Job Injury," has been pilot tested and rerevised, and is being edited and redesigned. After the Commission has approved the factsheet, it will be translated into Spanish in fall 2000.

3. Project To Explore Methods for Improving (the currently required) Benefit Notices for Injured Workers, September 1999.

1. To further identify the statutory and regulatory requirements that cause the greatest problems with notices, from the injured worker's perspective.

2. To identify and propose practical changes in laws and regulations to improve basic information for noninjured and newly injured workers.

3. To identify and propose practical changes in laws and regulations to improve information in benefit notices for injured workers.

1. Consultation with project advisory committee: ongoing

2. Revised Draft Recommendations on Information for Injured Workers: sent to the Commission and the project advisory committee on March 13, 2000

3. Input from injured workers regarding different options: spring & summer 2000

a. Plan, recruit, and conduct discussion groups

b. Summarize and analyze results of the discussion groups

4. Input from the advisory committee: summer and fall 2000

a. Obtain advisory input via mail or in a meeting, or both

b. Review, research, analyze, and incorporate advisory input as appropriate

5. Final report of proposed changes: fall 2000

Note: The agenda may be adjusted, if necessary, depending upon the time needed for discussion of each item.