Legislation Review Guidelines

What is MLAC?

The Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) provides a forum for business and labor to meet to explore, discuss, and resolve issues involving the workers’ compensation system. The committee provides advice to the Oregon Legislature and governor about legislative and other proposals affecting Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 656. When making recommendations, MLAC members apply a common set of values when forming an opinion about a proposal:

• Balance and Fairness. The proposal deals even-handedly with all parties, is administered fairly, and meets the needs of both workers and employers.
• Adequacy. The proposal to change benefits is commensurate with the severity of the injury or illness and sufficient to protect the financial integrity of the worker’s family.
• Affordability. The proposal provides quality care in a cost-effective manner and contributes to a healthy business climate.
• Efficiency. The proposal is user-friendly, streamlined, and maintains high standards.
• Stability and Flexibility. The proposal is stable enough to encourage consistency and efficiency, yet flexible enough to change when necessary.
• Predictability. The proposal’s benefits, costs, and consequences are known and can be planned for.

When should proposals be brought to MLAC?

The committee prefers hearing proposals with as much advance notice as possible and as early in the legislative session as possible. Proposals should be well developed and discussed with affected parties before coming to MLAC. Legislative Counsel-drafted language is preferred, but not essential for preliminary presentations. However, the committee generally provides official recommendations on Legislative Counsel-drafted language so the full scope of the proposal is identified.

What information does MLAC need on a proposal?

Individual proposals and legislation may generate specific questions, but generally the committee wants to know:

1. How does the proposal support the values of MLAC?
2. What specific problem are you trying to solve? What caused the problem? Why is it a problem? What does the proposed change do?
3. Has the issue been addressed previously? Does the proposed change reinstitute a practice/benefit that was available pre-Mahonia Hall reform? If yes, do we know the reason for the change as part of the reforms?
4. What data supports or illustrates the effect of the proposal? What data is or is not available?
• What limitations exist in obtaining the data?
• If there are limitations, in what instances do we support a change even without compelling data?
5. How many workers does the problem affect? For example, does the problem affect 2 percent of all workers or 100 percent of all workers?
6. Do we know the potential costs for insurers if the proposal went into effect?
7. Do we have any feedback or position from the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers' or the Small Business Ombudsman?
8. What stakeholders are affected (workers, employers, insurers, medical providers, etc.). Do they support the proposal?
9. Has the party bringing this proposal forward researched the fiscal impact on affected parties? Has the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) provided a potential system cost for the proposed change? If not, please work with WCD to fulfill this request before presenting to MLAC.
10. While working with WCD, please also consider an analysis of the scope of your proposed change to the system. How will the potential legislation globally affect current rules, laws and/or practices?

How do I get my proposal to MLAC?

Contact the committee administrator, Teri Watson, at teri.a.watson@dcbs.oregon.gov or 971-332-0260. The committee meets monthly in the interim and once every two weeks during legislative sessions.