This bill amends the qualifications for hearing officers within the Department of Labor by establishing new educational and professional requirements. Specifically, it mandates that all hearing officers must be graduates of an accredited law school. Additionally, the labor commissioner is directed to prioritize hiring licensed attorneys who possess either workers' compensation experience or experience in administrative adjudication. The bill also modifies the language regarding the qualifications of hearing officers, changing "insure" to "ensure" and removing the previous requirement for experience in workers' compensation.

Furthermore, the bill outlines additional responsibilities for the commissioner, including the development of a code of ethics for hearings and hearing officers, the establishment of a strengthened reporting structure, and the requirement for hearing officers to complete at least 15 hours of continuing education annually, along with an additional 15 hours of training with the attorney general's staff. The changes aim to enhance the qualifications and professionalism of hearing officers, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle workers' compensation cases effectively. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 281-A:42-b
As Amended by the House: 281-A:42-b
Version adopted by both bodies: 281-A:42-b
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 281-A:42-b
SB569 text: 281-A:42-b