45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION FOR A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF RECENT COURT DECISIONS ON THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVISIONS UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT AND THE NEW MEXICO OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE DISABLEMENT LAW; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is appropriated from the workers' compensation administration fund to the workers' compensation administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2002 through 2004 to contract for a study of the effect of recent court decisions on the exclusive remedy provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act and the effects of the events of September 11 on the workers' compensation system or other issues relating to that act, and to provide technical or legal assistance to the advisory council on workers' compensation and occupational disease disablement. The director of the workers' compensation administration may contract with one or more independent organizations to conduct the study and seek comparisons of litigation by employees against employers outside of the workers' compensation system and the cost of such litigation and to provide technical or legal assistance in making recommendations to the governor and the advisory council on workers' compensation and occupational disease disablement. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the workers' compensation administration fund.

Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.