Joint committee authorizes drafting of CDLE workers' compensation tech update

The Joint Technology Committee voted to authorize drafting of a bill that would update Colorado's Workers' Compensation Act to permit an electronic data filing system and an internal claim management system for the Department of Labor and Employment. Samantha Falco of Legislative Council staff told the committee the technology projects have been appropriated and the requested statute changes are technical, focused on modernizing filing requirements and cleaning up outdated provisions.

Falco said the redline staff received would add language in a statutory provision referenced in the materials as "8‑40‑201" and would add definitions for terms including "filing," "mailed or mailing," and "service or served." She said Caroline Martin will walk the committee through the formal draft once staff prepares it.

Vice Chair moved the motion to authorize drafting and the clerk conducted a roll call. Members present voted to authorize Caroline Martin to begin drafting the CDLE statute change; the chair said the committee will reconvene once draft language is available to decide whether to introduce the bill, possibly as a late bill.

The committee did not vote on introduction or final language at the meeting; staff will produce the draft text and return the committee to a short meeting to decide on introduction and any further edits.