19.0597.01000
Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO. 1240
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Mitskog, Becker, Boschee, Roers Jones, D. Ruby
Senators Burckhard, Oban, J. Roers
1 A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 65-01 of the North Dakota
2 Century Code, relating to workforce safety and insurance pilot program; to amend and reenact
3 section 65-05.1-06.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to rehabilitation services pilot
4 programs; and to provide for a report to legislative management.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
6 SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 65-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
7 and enacted as follows:
8 Pilot programs - Report to legislative management.
9 Annually the organization shall report to the legislative management on the status of any
10 current pilot programs and pilot programs completed within the previous twelve months. The
11 report must include an overview and status update, findings, and recommendations on each
12 pilot program, together with any legislation required to implement the recommendations.
13 SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Section 65-05.1-06.3 of the North Dakota Century Code is
14 amended and reenacted as follows:
15 65-05.1-06.3. Rehabilitation services pilot programs - Reports.
16 The organization may implement a system of pilot programs to allow the organization to
17 assess alternative methods of providing rehabilitation services. A pilot program may address
18 one or more of the organization's comprehensive rehabilitation services, including vocational,
19 medical, psychological, economic, and social rehabilitation services. The goal of a pilot program
20 must be to improve the outcome of the rehabilitation services offered by the organization to
21 assist the injured employee in making adjustments necessitated from the employee's injury and
22 to improve the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation services in returning an employee to
23 substantial gainful employment. Notwithstanding laws to the contrary, a pilot program may
24 address a broad range of approaches, including collaborative efforts between the organization
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 Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly
1 and the injured employee through which there are variances from the rehabilitation services
2 hierarchy; return-to-work trial periods during which cash benefits are suspended; intensive job
3 search assistance; recognition of and focused services for injured employees who are at risk;
4 and coordination of services of public and private entities. If a pilot program utilizes coordination
5 of services of other state agencies, such as job service North Dakota, department of human
6 services, North Dakota university system, or department of public instruction, the organization
7 shall consult with the state agency in establishing the relevant portions of the pilot program and
8 the state agency shall cooperate with the organization in implementing the pilot program. The
9 organization shall include in its biennial report to the workers' compensation review committee
10 under section 54-35-22provide status reports on current pilot programs in accordance with
11 section 1 of this Act.
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Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 65-05.1-06.3
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 65-05.1-06.3
Enrollment: 65-05.1-06.3