House Bill For Texas Comp Reform Unveiled.

House Bill For Texas Comp Reform Unveiled.

By Daniel Hays

NU Online News Service, Feb. 10, 4:30 p.m. EST? A bill outlining a huge overhaul of the Texas workers' compensation system was introduced yesterday in the state's House of Representatives, which like a Senate measure, would provide for certified networks to treat injured workers.[@@]

In many other ways, the 298-page measure introduced by Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrrollton, differed greatly from legislation proposed last month by Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine.

One of the key points of difference was how to handle the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. Mr. Solomons' bill would abolish it, while Mr. Staples' measure would replace the six part-time, voluntary commissioners with one full-time staff commissioner.

Mr. Solomons heads the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, which examined the TWCC last year and concluded it should be eliminated and its duties passed on to the State Insurance Department. His bill embodied that and other commission recommendations.

A spokesperson for the commission, Steve Quick, said there was no immediate comment on the bill, but he noted that TWCC Chairman Mike Hachtman had issued a statement last September questioning of the commission proposals.

Mr. Hachtman said then that there was nothing in the insurance department's "mission, goals or vision remotely close to administering workers' compensation."

House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, said the bill would probably be referred to the House Committee on Business and Industry where Rep. Solomons would be working on it with Rep. Helen Giddings, D-Dallas.

He said the bill was a start to "reform a crippled system." The announcement of the bill noted that in a comparison of 12 states, workers' comp medical costs in Texas were 78 percent higher than the median, and indemnity benefits were rising steeply.

Sen. Staples, in a statement commenting on the introduction of the House bill, said there was clear consensus from the various committees which have examined the workers' compensation system that major changes need to be made.

He said he looked forward to "working with our colleagues in the Senate and in the House to examine in even greater detail what changes need to be made."