NY S04839

Changes reporting responsibility from the commissioner of labor to the workers' compensation board for annual return-to-work recommendations for permanently partially disabled workers, with reports due in March instead of by December 1, 2007.

Expands the advisory council assisting with return-to-work recommendations from six to seven members, adding the commissioner of labor or their designee as a voting member.

Requires the board, commissioner of labor, and superintendent of financial services to track and report annually in December on permanently partially disabled claimants, including numbers who returned to work, were recategorized as totally disabled, remain subject to duration limits, or whose benefits expired.

Mandates that if the December annual report is not filed, the board chair and commissioner of labor must appear before the Senate and Assembly labor committees to provide the required information.

Bill takes effect immediately and expires five years after enactment.