The bill amends the Worker's Disability Compensation Act of 1969, specifically section 841, to update the procedures for handling disputes regarding compensation and benefits. It mandates that any disputes must be submitted to the agency rather than the bureau, and all questions arising under the act must be determined by the agency or a worker's compensation magistrate. The bill also introduces a new threshold for claims eligible for small claims division referral, increasing the limit from $2,000 to $10,000. Additionally, it clarifies that expert testimony is not required to prove any element of a claim in the small claims division and allows for the use of medical reports as evidence.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that a worker's compensation magistrate's decision in the small claims division is final and nonappealable, except in cases of fraud, and it specifies that the doctrine of res judicata or collateral estoppel does not apply to decisions regarding claims not included in the magistrate's order. The bill also outlines that if a claim exceeds the new $10,000 threshold, it must be removed from the small claims division unless all parties agree otherwise. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of House Bill No. 5081.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 418.841