Bill Information:

PROTECTING AND PUTTING NORTH CAROLINA BACK TO WORK BY REFORMING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT TO (1) DEFINE "SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT" PERTAINING TO AN EMPLOYEE'S RETURN TO WORK WITHIN RESTRICTIONS OR AFTER REACHING MAXIMUM IMPROVEMENT; (2) MAKE WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATIONS GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION FROM RECEIVING BENEFITS; (3) PROVIDE THAT PARTIES MAY REACH A SEPARATE CONTEMPORANEOUS AGREEMENT TO RESOLVE ISSUES NOT COVERED BY THE ACT; (4) CLARIFY THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES REGARDING MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, TREATMENT, AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL INFORMATION; (5) CAP THE DURATION OF COMPENSATION FOR TEMPORARY TOTAL DISABILITY; (6) EXTEND FROM THREE HUNDRED TO FIVE HUNDRED THE NUMBER OF WEEKS AN INJURED EMPLOYEE IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR PARTIAL INCAPACITY; (7) INCREASE THE DEATH BENEFIT AND BURIAL EXPENSE ALLOWANCE; (8) REDUCE THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION FROM SEVEN TO FIVE MEMBERS SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE CONFIRMATION; (9) PROVIDE THAT COMMISSIONERS AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE CODE OF JUDICIAL STANDARDS; AND (10) REPEAL THE COMMISSION'S FULL EXEMPTION FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT, THEREBY SUBJECTING THE COMMISSION TO RULE MAKING PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 2A OF CHAPTER 150B OF THE GENERAL STATUTES AND REQUIRING THE COMMISSION TO READOPT RULES PURSUANT TO THAT ARTICLE.