Bill Text: TX SB67 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the Texas workers' compensation system by videoconference.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [SB67 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB67-Introduced.html
89R1214 RDS-F | ||
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 67 |
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relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the | ||
Texas workers' compensation system by videoconference. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 410.005(a), Labor Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) A [ |
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hearing may not be conducted at a site more than 75 miles from the | ||
claimant's residence at the time of the injury unless: | ||
(1) the division determines that good cause exists for | ||
the selection of a different location; or | ||
(2) the contested case hearing is conducted by | ||
videoconference as provided by Section 410.0055. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 410, Labor Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 410.0055 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 410.0055. CONDUCTING CERTAIN CONTESTED CASE HEARINGS | ||
BY VIDEOCONFERENCE. (a) In this section, "custodial officer," | ||
"detention officer," "emergency medical technician," | ||
"firefighter," and "peace officer" have the meanings assigned by | ||
Section 607.051, Government Code. | ||
(b) The division shall conduct a contested case hearing by | ||
videoconference on request of: | ||
(1) the claimant, if: | ||
(A) the claim relates to an injury incurred by | ||
the claimant in the course and scope of the claimant's employment or | ||
volunteer service as a custodial officer, detention officer, | ||
emergency medical technician, firefighter, or peace officer; or | ||
(B) the claimant resides more than 75 miles from | ||
the hearing site at the time of the hearing; or | ||
(2) the insurance carrier, if the insurance carrier | ||
is: | ||
(A) the State Office of Risk Management; | ||
(B) The Texas A&M University System; | ||
(C) the Texas Department of Transportation; or | ||
(D) The University of Texas System. | ||
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to | ||
a contested case hearing requested on or after the effective date of | ||
this Act. A contested case hearing requested before the effective | ||
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the | ||
contested case hearing was requested, and the former law is | ||
continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |