HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 5

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Randal S. Crowder

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION AN INDEPENDENT STUDY IN 2018 AND AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER TO REVIEW OTHER STATES' WORKERS' COMPENSATION TRENDS AND INITIATIVES AND TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION SYSTEM IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, workers are the backbone of state industry and commerce, and workers' compensation benefits are needed to compensate workers injured on the job and to enable them to return to work; and

     WHEREAS, each year, the workers' compensation administration studies data on workplace injuries and workers' compensation benefits paid in the state and reports on its findings; and

     WHEREAS, the workers' compensation administration's access to information on national trends in workers' compensation issues and other states' responses to those issues would enable it to improve New Mexico's schedule and implementation of workers' compensation benefits;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the workers' compensation administration be requested to commission in 2018 an independent study in which information on national trends in workers' compensation issues and other states' responses to those issues, including information on such topics as return-to-work issues, opiate-use issues and the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder claims, is collected and in which related recommendations are developed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workers' compensation administration be requested to report the findings and recommendations of that study to the appropriate legislative interim committees on or before December 1, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workers' compensation administration be requested to commission follow-up studies to that study at least every five years thereafter and to report on the findings and recommendations of those studies to the legislative finance committee on or before December 1 of the year in which the study is conducted; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the director of the workers' compensation administration, the director of the risk management division of the general services department and the director of the legislative council service.

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