§ 39:1547 — Return to work program

§1547. Return to work program
A. There is hereby created within the office of risk management the return to work
program. The goal of the program shall be the safe and expedient return of state employees
with job-related injuries and illnesses to transitional or regular employment. The office of
risk management shall, by rule, design a program that returns workers to gainful employment
as soon as is medically possible after a job-related injury or illness. The program shall at a
minimum include the following components:
(1) A transitional return to work program.
(2) A workers' compensation claims reporting process.
(3) A process of semiannual reports to the legislature and the governor.
B. The transitional return to work program shall be designed by the office of risk
management in conjunction with the office of the state Americans with Disabilities Act
coordinator, within the office of the governor, division of administration. Program
procedures and forms shall be developed and agreed to by both offices.
C. The workers' compensation claims reporting process shall be designed by the
office of risk management to facilitate the timely reporting of work-related injuries to the
office of risk management by state agencies, boards, and commissions.
D. The semiannual reporting process shall be designed by the office of risk
management to outline the activities of the program. The report shall include but not be
limited to the number of occupational-related cases reported, the number of occupational-related cases outstanding, the number of employees drawing workers' compensation benefits,
the dollar amount of indemnity payments and medical payments made to employees, the
number of employees returned to work during the reporting period, and the estimated dollar
savings that resulted from the return to work program.

Legislative History

Acts 1999, No. 916, §1; Acts 2025, No. 146, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.