Public Forums

• In November 1997, the Commission will host a public forum to discuss the preliminary findings of the CHSWC sponsored study by RAND of the permanent disability system in California. This public forum will provide the opportunity for experts, members of the community, and the public to discuss the report and share observations and opinions.

• The Commission plans to sponsor a one day "Workers guide to Workers' Compensation" educational conference, tentatively scheduled for May 1998. The prototype informational materials will be presented and distributed to the community and the public.

• The Commission is planning to hold a public hearing/open forum to discuss the Cal-OSHA High Hazard Targeted Inspection Program and Assessment, before it is scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 1999.

Discussion Groups

• The Commission plans to create blue-ribbon advisory committees to assist in the development of feasible recommendations and workable plans to improve the permanent disability system. These policy and technical committees, comprised of experts and community members, will work together to determine the feasibility of and further detail the recommendations of the CHSWC-sponsored study of permanent disability conducted by RAND. The goal is to develop a consensus report, including recommendations, action plans and proposed legislation based on the preliminary findings of the RAND study and input from the community.

• The Commission will host an "Anti-Fraud Roundtable" for the community and the public to discuss those draft findings and recommendations from the CHSWC Fact-Finding Hearing not supported in their current form by the Department of Insurance (DOI) and the Fraud Assessment Commission (FAC).

• The Commission will continue to fund the California Study Group on Young Workers' Health and Safety.

• CHSWC has established a "Lien Resolution Roundtable", comprised of interested members from the workers' compensation community. The Roundtable is discussing a proposal developed by CHSWC staff with legislative and administrative recommendations to address lien issues.

Ongoing Projects

• The Vocational Rehabilitation Reform Study, initiated in July 1995, is ongoing and a final report is expected in mid-1998. The Commission published an interim report in August 1997 containing findings to-date.

• The Commission is developing an Issue Paper on cost shifting between the State Disability Insurance system (SDI) and the workers' compensation system, expected at the end of 1997.

• The Commission has contracted for a study of the physician report problem as it pertains to the disability evaluation process. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 1997.

• Beginning in 1995, the Commission for a study of medical-legal evaluations. This project has been extended for a third year and another report is expected in July 1998.

• The Commission is carrying out an evaluation of collectively bargained workers' compensation programs in the California construction industry, also known as "carve-outs". The first phase of this study is scheduled to be completed in December 1997.

• The Commission has implemented a project entitled "CHSWC Profile of DWC District Office Operations." As part of the Commission's responsibility to oversee state operations which administer the workers' compensation program, this project is designed to provide insights and knowledge in areas which have been identified as problematic. The Commission will continue to monitor the operations of the DWC district offices.

• The Commission is conducting a pilot project to identify employers who are illegally uninsured for workers' compensation. This pilot project will run for up to one year.

Potential Projects

The Commission may consider a study to determine the feasibility of simplifying the entire workers' compensation system. This simplification goal may be met in part with adoption of the recommendations from the RAND study of permanent disability.

Executive Summary: Findings and Recommendations

Section I The Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation

Section II Reform Legislation Impact on the Workers' Compensation Community

Section III Workers' Compensation Issues

Section IV Health and Safety Issues

Section V Program and Agency Operations

Section VI Commission's Future Activities

Acknowledgments