The new court administrator regulations supporting the Electronic Adjudication Management System (EAMS) has now been approved by the Office of Administrative Law and filed with the secretary of state and became effective as of November 17, 2008.
Now that the regulations are final, DWC is requiring all filers to use the OCR forms unless they are in the e-Forms trial.
The division is allowing a four-week transition period through December 12, 2008, during which time legacy forms will continue to be accepted. Additionally, forms requiring multiple signatures will be accepted in legacy form as long as the filer establishes that circulation began prior regulations requiring OCR forms becoming effective on November 17. In most cases this requirement can be shown by a signature dated prior to November 17.
Unrepresented injured workers will be allowed a three month transition-until February 17-from legacy to OCR forms use. Additionally, unrepresented injured workers without access to a computer or typewriter can fill in the OCR forms by printing using block letters.
The regulations require documents to be filed using revised forms so that the data provided can be scanned into EAMS where it automatically populates an electronic case file and triggers work flows. Regulations governing the Disability Evaluation Unit (DEU) and Retraining and Return to Work Unit (RRTW) were also updated.
EAMS, California's first comprehensive digital case management system for workers' compensation, was launched in August to replace DWC's outdated court technology and supporting infrastructure, and to more efficiently resolve claims and manage court calendars and the division's resources.
Forms filers making the transition to OCR forms can use
WorkInjury.com for access to all forms, handbooks, and instructions about EAMS by clicking:
• For FORMS: The "forms" button in the left margin, or top drop-down menu, on our home page.
• For Everything-EAMS: The links in our "Top Articles of Interest" box (immediately below our "Recent Articles" section on our home page) for handbooks, instructions, video, etc.
The court administrator regulations are contained within Title 8, California Code of Regulations, sections 10210 - 10297 and:
• Set forth uniform rules for district office procedures, including conferences, hearings and continuances
• Define and explain how adjudication files are stored and maintained in EAMS
• Provide forms, which are scanned into EAMS, to be used at all trial level proceedings
• Establish a priority calendar for issues requiring an expedited hearing and decision and a priority calendar
• Set forth the rules regarding access to records and files
• Set forth the procedure for filing a review of administrative orders.
The Disability Evaluation Unit (DEU) regulations are contained in Title 8, California Code of Regulations, sections 10150 - 10168.
The Retraining and Return to Work Unit (RRTW) regulations are contained in Title 8, California Code of Regulations, sections 10116 - 10133.58.
To read the complete regulations,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.
- Help for the Injured Worker
