Congressman Joe Baca, D-Calif., has introduced legislation that would authorize the creation of a National Commission on State Workers' Compensation Laws.
Baca's National Commission on State Workers' Compensation Laws Act would establish a separate body to evaluate state workers' compensation laws in order to determine if they provide an "adequate, prompt and equitable" system for injured workers.
"More than 35 years have passed since our government took a serious look at the effectiveness of workers' compensation laws," said Rep. Baca. " Access to proper benefits and medical care after on the job injuries is a right every American worker deserves. I am hopeful this legislation will bring us closer to updating and modernizing our state workers' compensation laws to ensure they remain effective in this new century."
In 1972, a national commission authorized by the Nixon administration made numerous recommendations and set minimum standards.