Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1992 TAG: 9201010193
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-7 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
TERRY STAFF SAYS IT WON'T STUDY WORKER COMPENSATION LAWS
Members of a citizens group advocating overhaul of Virginia's worker
compensation laws said Tuesday they expect to conduct an independent study
after being turned down by the staff of Attorney General Mary Sue Terry.
Officers of Martinsville-based Citizens to Improve Workers' Compensation
Laws of Virginia met with representatives of Terry's office in Richmond for 2
1/2 hours Monday. Anita Lawrence, head of the organization, said Terry's staff
ruled out a state study of laws protecting workers, citing a lack of financing
because of budget cuts.
The study of "a plan for a more fair and equitable workers' compensation
system" is expected to be handled by a cross-section of employers, insurers,
workers and representatives of labor and government, Lawrence said.
The organization's legislative proposals to improve the workers'
compensation system were discussed with the attorney general's staff, she
said.
Among the proposed changes is a bill that would provide for an injured
employee to seek medical care from a family physician, Lawrence said. Current
law provides that an injured worker will go to one of a panel of three doctors
selected by the employer.
The attorney general's staff was "very receptive" to the organization's
proposals, Lawrence said. But the attorney general's office did not return a
reporter's telephone call about the meeting Tuesday.
The citizens organization is seeking a compromise with employers and
insurance companies, she said. "We do not want to take everything away from
the employers. . . . A lot of the companies and insurers think we're trying to
revamp the system. We're trying to work with the system in place for
everyone," Lawrence added.
The group told the state officials of complaints about abuses of the
workers' compensation system, she said.
Lawrence said she and others in the organization plan to seek support for
their proposals to the General Assembly in about two weeks.