MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION FOR A STUDY OF THE PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY AND RETURN TO WORK SYSTEMS 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 twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000) is appropriated from the workers' compensation administration assessment fund to the workers' compensation administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 for the purpose of contracting for a study of the permanent partial disability and return to work systems in New Mexico. The director of the workers' compensation administration may contract with an independent organization to conduct the study and seek comparisons with other workers' compensation jurisdictions and the labor department to provide specific wage data for claimants included in the study. The director shall require the contractor to prepare and publish a report of the findings and recommendations of the study and shall distribute the report to the legislature, the governor, the workers' compensation advisory council and the workers' compensation administration. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2001 shall revert to the workers' compensation administration assessment fund.

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