Substitute House Bill No. 5385 establishes a task force aimed at studying the causes of undue delays in workers' compensation claims specifically for police officers and firefighters. The task force will investigate various factors contributing to these delays, including administrative processing, medical provider availability, and insurer authorization requirements. The task force will consist of eight members, including appointees from both the House and Senate leadership, as well as representatives from the Labor Commissioner and the Workers' Compensation Commission. Initial appointments must be made within thirty days of the bill's passage, and the task force is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations by January 1, 2027.

The bill includes new legal language that establishes the task force as a new section of law, effective upon passage. It does not delete any existing legal language. Additionally, the bill has been reported favorably by the Labor and Public Employees Committee and is noted to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities. The administrative staff of the relevant joint standing committee will support the task force, which will dissolve upon submitting its report or on January 1, 2027, whichever is later.