NY A06208

Requires the Workers' Compensation Board to index a claim immediately upon receipt of a medical report plus either a claim filed by the injured worker or an employer's report of injury.

Mandates the board hold an initial hearing for each claim within sixty days after indexing and requires a hearing before a referee within forty-five calendar days of application by either party or their attorney, with no limitations or prerequisites imposed on hearing applications.

Requires the board to maintain a stenographic record and verbatim transcript of all hearings recorded by a board-employed reporter, and provide minutes at no cost to the injured worker and their representative in the worker's native language.

Requires all decisions be issued to the injured worker in their native language.

Takes effect immediately upon enactment.