(1)(a) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, with the concurrence of the Governor, shall appoint an ombudsman for injured workers. The ombudsman is under the supervision and control of the director and, with the concurrence of the Governor, the director may terminate the ombudsman.
(b) The ombudsman for injured workers shall:
(A) Act as an advocate for injured workers by accepting, investigating and attempting to resolve complaints concerning matters related to workers’ compensation;
(B) Provide information to injured workers to enable them to protect their rights in the workers’ compensation system; and
(C) Report to the Governor in writing at least once each quarter. A report shall include a summary of the services that the ombudsman provided during the quarter and the ombudsman’s recommendations for improving ombudsman services and for protecting workers’ rights in the workers’ compensation system.
(2)(a) The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, with the concurrence of the Governor, shall appoint an ombudsman for small business. The ombudsman is under the supervision and control of the director and, with the concurrence of the Governor, the director may terminate the ombudsman.
(b) The ombudsman for small business shall:
(A) Provide information and assistance to small businesses with regard to workers’ compensation insurance and claims processing matters; and
(B) Report to the Governor in writing at least once each quarter. A report shall include a summary of the services that the ombudsman provided during the quarter and the ombudsman’s recommendations for improving ombudsman services and for providing information and assistance to small businesses with regard to workers’ compensation insurance and claims processing matters. [1987 c.884 §60b; 1990 c.2 §38; 2003 c.591 §16]
Section: Previous 656.642 656.644 656.646 656.648 656.702 656.704 656.708 656.709 656.710 656.712 656.714 656.716 656.718 656.720 656.722 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008