BILL NUMBER: S3951
SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to prohibit-
ing cases from being closed without a hearing or written stipulation and
requiring a stenographic record of all hearings held; and to repeal
certain provisions of such law relating thereto
 
PURPOSE:
Prohibits cases from being closed without a hearing or written stipu-
lation; requires a stenographic record of all hearings held; requires
minutes and decisions to be provided to the injured worker in their
native language.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Subdivision 2-b of section 25 of the workers' compensation
law is repealed and subdivision 2c is renumbered subdivision 2-b.
Section 2: Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 3 of section 25 of the
workers' compensation law, chapter 61 of the laws of 1986, are amended
to mandate that no final decision is made without a hearing for both
parties and mandates the workers' compensation board to keep steno-
graphic records of all hearings held. Also, injured workers and their
lawyers shall provide the minutes, at no cost, in the native language of
the worker.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently the workers' compensation board is not required to hold a
hearing announcing a final decision before closing a case or to keep
stenographic records of all hearings held. This leads to a lack of tran-
sparency within workers' compensation cases. This bill would require a
final hearing that announces a case decision and requires a stenographic
record of all hearings. The bill also requires minutes to be provided to
injured workers in their native language.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: 5.4161 - Referred to Labor
2020: S. 8266 (RAMOS)- Referred to Labor
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.