S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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4958
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 13, 2013
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Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to directing
the chairman of the workers' compensation board to appoint a referee
to investigate, review and hear claims at each hearing part within the
city of New York
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 141 of the workers' compensation law is amended by
adding a new closing paragraph to read as follows:
THE CHAIRMAN SHALL APPOINT AND EMPLOY REFEREES TO BE PHYSICALLY PRES-
ENT AT EACH HEARING PART OPERATING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF
NEW YORK, TO INVESTIGATE, REVIEW AND HEAR CLAIMS AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE
CENTER OR DISTRICT OFFICE WHERE THE CLAIMANT RESIDES OR ELECTS TO
ATTEND; PROVIDED, HOWEVER THAT IN THE EVENT OF THE TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF
THE APPROPRIATE REFEREE, AND WHERE NO OTHER REFEREE IS PHYSICALLY AVAIL-
ABLE TO APPEAR, A HEARING MAY BE HELD BY MEANS OF VIDEOCONFERENCE BY A
REFEREE APPEARING FROM A LOCATION OUTSIDE OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER
OR DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE HEARING. NO CLAIMANT RESIDING WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHALL HAVE TO CROSS A BRIDGE TO TRAV-
EL TO A HEARING LOCATION, UNLESS THEY OPT TO DO SO AT THEIR REQUEST.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05598-01-3