A bipartisan legislative committee will meet Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Helena to hear presentations on worker safety and workers' compensation claims-closure issues.
The Economic Affairs Interim Committee will meet at 9:15 a.m. in Room 137 of the State Capitol. The public is welcome to attend and will have an opportunity to comment on the committee's work.
The meeting will be audio-streamed live on the legislative branch Web site at leg.mt.gov. You can also watch it over the state public broadcasting network, TVMT. To find the TVMT channel in your area, visit leg.mt.gov/tvmt.
The 2009 Legislature called for a study of the state worker's compensation system when it passed Senate Joint Resolution 30. The Economic Affairs Interim Committee has been assigned to carry out the study and report to the 2011 session.
At the Sept. 9 meeting, committee members will learn about programs aimed at improving worker safety and reasons that some workers' compensation claims remain open for long periods.
Representatives of WorkSafeMT, the Montana Chamber of Commerce, and the state Department of Labor and Industry will discuss worker safety, as well as programs and incentives aimed at helping employers to keep their workers safe.
The Montana Municipal Insurance Authority, which represents both large and small communities, and representatives of businesses with fewer than 10 employees will discuss the advantages and difficulties of getting an injured worker back to work as soon as possible, even in a modified job.
The committee also will consider whether to explore other issues related to employment, agriculture, or industry, in addition to the workers' compensation study.
Sen. Jim Keane, D-Butte, chairs the Economic Affairs Interim Committee. Rep. Gordon Vance, R-Bozeman, is the vice chair. Other members are Sens. Roy Brown, R-Billings; Ken Hansen, D-Harlem; and Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish; and Reps. Chuck Hunter, D-Helena; Michele Reinhart, D-Missoula; and Don Roberts, R-Billings.
For more information, visit the committee Web page at leg.mt.gov/eaic or contact Pat Murdo, committee staff, at pmurdo@mt.gov or (406) 444-3594.
