Proposed rule changes in California would require electronic filing and service of all workers compensation case-related documents, rather than requiring service by mail.
“These proposed changes will increase the efficiency of (the Electronic Adjudication Management System) for stakeholders and reduce costs to DWC, parties and members of the public by decreasing expenditures on paper and postage,” the state’s Division of Workers’ Compensation said. A public comment period will end Nov. 12.
Proposed rules would require all parties to file documents electronically, with only limited exceptions. Paper filings would still be allowed for documents submitted by unrepresented injured workers, unrepresented dependents and unrepresented uninsured employers. They would also be allowed for certain exhibits listed in Section 10677 and for optical character-recognition forms that are prepared at a hearing or filed at trial.
The division is also proposing to repeal Section 10205.6, which allows parties to designate first-class mail, electronic mail or fax as their preferred method of service. The section also allows parties to agree to any method of service and requires service by first-class mail for unrepresented injured workers, unrepresented dependents and unrepresented uninsured employers.
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