1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to labor and industry; making technical and policy changes to certain 
1.3 	workers' compensation hearing provisions;amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, 
1.4 	sections 176.011, subdivisions 1a, 2; 176.104, subdivision 1; 176.106, subdivision 
1.5 	4; 176.129, subdivision 10; 176.1292, subdivisions 2, 9; 176.155, subdivision 2; 
1.6 	176.231, subdivision 9a; 176.238, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6; 176.239, subdivisions 
1.7 	2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10; 176.253, subdivision 2; 176.2611, subdivision 7; 176.271, 
1.8 	subdivision 1; 176.275, subdivision 1; 176.285, subdivisions 2, 2a, 2b; 176.305, 
1.9 	subdivision 1; 176.321, subdivision 3; 176.322; 176.341, subdivision 6; 176.361, 
1.10 	subdivisions 1, 4; 176.421, subdivision 7; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, 
1.11 	sections 176.081, subdivision 1; 176.101, subdivision 2a; 176.155, subdivision 1; 
1.12 	176.239, subdivisions 6, 7.
1.13 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.14 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.011, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
1.15 		Subd. 1a.Administrative conference. An "administrative conference" is a meeting 
1.16 	conducted by a commissioner's designee or a compensation judge where parties can discuss 
1.17 	on an expedited basis and in an informal setting their viewpoints concerning disputed issues 
1.18 	arising under section 176.102, 176.103, 176.135, 176.136, or 176.239. If the parties are 
1.19 	unable to resolve the dispute, the commissioner's designee or a compensation judge shall 
1.20 	issue an administrative decision under section 176.106 or 176.239.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.011, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.22 		Subd. 2.Child. "Child" includes a posthumous child, a child entitled by law to inherit 
1.23 	as a child of a deceased person, a child of a person adjudged by a court of competent 
1.24 	jurisdiction to be the fatherparent of the child, and a stepchild, grandchild, or foster child 
1.25 	who was a member of the family of a deceased employee at the time of injury and dependent 
2.1 	upon the employee for support. A stepchild is a "child" within the meaning of section 
2.2 	176.041.

2.3 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 176.081, subdivision 1, is amended 
2.4 	to read:
2.5 		Subdivision 1.Limitation of fees. (a) A fee for legal services of 20 percent of the first 
2.6 	$130,000 of compensation awarded to the employee is the maximum permissible fee and 
2.7 	does not require approval by the commissioner, compensation judge, or any other party. 
2.8 	All fees, including fees for obtaining medical or rehabilitation benefits, must be calculated 
2.9 	according to the formula under this subdivision, except as otherwise provided in clause (1) 
2.10 	or (2).
2.11 	(1) The contingent attorney fee for recovery of monetary benefits according to the 
2.12 	formula in this section is presumed to be adequate to cover recovery of medical and 
2.13 	rehabilitation benefit or services concurrently in dispute. Attorney fees for recovery of 
2.14 	medical or rehabilitation benefits or services shall be assessed against the employer or 
2.15 	insurer only if the attorney establishes that the contingent fee is inadequate to reasonably 
2.16 	compensate the attorney for representing the employee in the medical or rehabilitation 
2.17 	dispute. In cases where the contingent fee is inadequate the employer or insurer is liable for 
2.18 	attorney fees based on the formula in this subdivision or in clause (2).
2.19 	For the purposes of applying the formula where the employer or insurer is liable for 
2.20 	attorney fees, the amount of compensation awarded for obtaining disputed medical and 
2.21 	rehabilitation benefits under sections 176.102, 176.135, and 176.136 shall be the dollar 
2.22 	value of the medical or rehabilitation benefit awarded, where ascertainable.
2.23 	(2) The maximum attorney fee for obtaining a change of doctor or qualified rehabilitation 
2.24 	consultant, or any other disputed medical or rehabilitation benefit for which a dollar value 
2.25 	is not reasonably ascertainable, is the amount charged in hourly fees for the representation 
2.26 	or $500, whichever is less, to be paid by the employer or insurer.
2.27 	(3) The fees for obtaining disputed medical or rehabilitation benefits are included in the 
2.28 	$26,000 limit in paragraph (b). An attorney must concurrently file all outstanding disputed 
2.29 	issues. An attorney is not entitled to attorney fees for representation in any issue which 
2.30 	could reasonably have been addressed during the pendency of other issues for the same 
2.31 	injury.
2.32 	(b) All fees for legal services related to the same injury are cumulative and may not 
2.33 	exceed $26,000. If multiple injuries are the subject of a dispute, the commissioner, 
3.1 	compensation judge, or court of appeals shall specify the attorney fee attributable to each 
3.2 	injury.
3.3 	(c) If the employer or the insurer or the defendant is given written notice of claims for 
3.4 	legal services or disbursements, the claim shall be a lien against the amount paid or payable 
3.5 	as compensation. Subject to the foregoing maximum amount for attorney fees, up to 20 
3.6 	percent of the first $130,000 of periodic compensation awarded to the employee may be 
3.7 	withheld from the periodic payments for attorney fees or disbursements if the payor of the 
3.8 	funds clearly indicates on the check or draft issued to the employee for payment the purpose 
3.9 	of the withholding, the name of the attorney, the amount withheld, and the gross amount of 
3.10 	the compensation payment before withholding. In no case shall fees be calculated on the 
3.11 	basis of any undisputed portion of compensation awards. Allowable fees under this chapter 
3.12 	shall be available to an attorney who procures a benefit on behalf of the employee and be 
3.13 	based solely upon genuinely disputed claims or portions of claims, including disputes related 
3.14 	to the payment of rehabilitation benefits or to other aspects of a rehabilitation plan. The 
3.15 	existence of a dispute is dependent upon a disagreement after the employer or insurer has 
3.16 	had adequate time and information to take a position on liability. Neither the holding of a 
3.17 	hearing nor the filing of an application for a hearing alone may determine the existence of 
3.18 	a dispute. Except where the employee is represented by an attorney in other litigation pending 
3.19 	at the department or at the Office of Administrative Hearings, a fee may not be charged for 
3.20 	services with respect to a medical or rehabilitation issue arising under section 176.102, 
3.21 	176.135, or 176.136 performed before the attorney has filed with the commissioner and 
3.22 	served on the employer or insurer and the attorney representing the employer or insurer, if 
3.23 	any, a request for certification of dispute containing the name of the employer and its insurer, 
3.24 	the date of the injury, and a description of the benefits claimed, and the department certifies 
3.25 	that there is a dispute and that it has tried to resolve the dispute. If within 30 days of the 
3.26 	filing of the request the department has not issued a determination of whether a dispute 
3.27 	exists, the dispute shall be certified if all of the following apply:
3.28 	(1) the insurer has not approved the requested benefit;
3.29 	(2) the employee, the employee's attorney, or the employee's treating provider has 
3.30 	submitted any and all additional information requested by the insurer necessary to determine 
3.31 	whether the requested benefit is disputed or approved; and
3.32 	(3) the insurer has had at least seven calendar days to review any additional information 
3.33 	submitted.
4.1 	In cases of nonemergency surgery, if the employer or insurer has requested a second opinion 
4.2 	under section 176.135, subdivision 1a, or an examination under section 176.155, subdivision 
4.3 	1, a dispute shall be certified if 45 days have passed following a written request for an 
4.4 	examination or second opinion and the conditions in clauses (1) to (3) have been met.
4.5 	(d) An attorney who is claiming legal fees for representing an employee in a workers' 
4.6 	compensation matter shall file a statement of attorney fees with the commissioner or 
4.7 	compensation judge before whom the matter was heard office. A copy of the signed retainer 
4.8 	agreement shall also be filed. The employee, employer or insurer, and the attorney 
4.9 	representing the employer or insurer, if any, shall receive a copy of the statement of attorney 
4.10 	fees. The statement shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall report the 
4.11 	number of hours spent on the case.
4.12 	(e) Employers and insurers may not pay attorney fees or wages for legal services of 
4.13 	more than $26,000 per case.
4.14 	(f) An attorney must file a statement of attorney fees within 12 months of the date the 
4.15 	attorney has submitted the written notice specified in paragraph (c). If the attorney has not 
4.16 	filed a statement of attorney fees within the 12 months, the attorney must send a renewed 
4.17 	notice of lien to the insurer. If 12 months have elapsed since the last notice of lien has been 
4.18 	received by the insurer and no statement of attorney fees has been filed, the insurer must 
4.19 	release the withheld money to the employee, except that before releasing the money to the 
4.20 	employee, the insurer must give the attorney 30 days' written notice of the pending release. 
4.21 	The insurer must not release the money if the attorney files a statement of attorney fees 
4.22 	within the 30 days.

4.23 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 176.101, subdivision 2a, is amended 
4.24 	to read:
4.25 		Subd. 2a.Permanent partial disability. (a) Compensation for permanent partial disability 
4.26 	is as provided in this subdivision. Permanent partial disability must be rated as a percentage 
4.27 	of the whole body in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner under section 
4.28 	176.105. During the 2026 regular legislative session, and every even-year legislative session 
4.29 	thereafter, the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council must consider whether the 
4.30 	permanent partial disability schedule in paragraph (b) represents adequate compensation 
4.31 	for permanent impairment.
4.32 	(b) The percentage determined pursuant to the rules adopted under section 176.105 must 
4.33 	be multiplied by the corresponding amount in the following table at the time permanent 
4.34 	partial disability is payable according to paragraph (c):

5.1	Impairment Rating
			Amount
		
5.2	(percent)
					
5.3	less than 5.5
		$
	114,260
		
5.4	5.5 to less than 10.5
			121,800
		
5.5	10.5 to less than 15.5
			129,485
		
5.6	15.5 to less than 20.5
			137,025
		
5.7	20.5 to less than 25.5
			139,720
		
5.8	25.5 to less than 30.5
			147,000
		
5.9	30.5 to less than 35.5
			150,150
		
5.10	35.5 to less than 40.5
			163,800
		
5.11	40.5 to less than 45.5
			177,450
		
5.12	45.5 to less than 50.5
			177,870
		
5.13	50.5 to less than 55.5
			181,965
		
5.14	55.5 to less than 60.5
			209,475
		
5.15	60.5 to less than 65.5
			237,090
		
5.16	65.5 to less than 70.5
			264,600
		
5.17	70.5 to less than 75.5
			292,215
		
5.18	75.5 to less than 80.5
			347,340
		
5.19	80.5 to less than 85.5
			402,465
		
5.20	85.5 to less than 90.5
			457,590
		
5.21	90.5 to less than 95.5
			512,715
		
5.22	95.5 up to and including 100
			567,840
		
5.23 	An employee may not receive compensation for more than a 100 percent disability of 
5.24 	the whole body, even if the employee sustains disability to two or more body parts.
5.25 	(c) Permanent partial disability is payable upon cessation of temporary total disability 
5.26 	under subdivision 1. If the employee requests payment in a lump sum, then the compensation 
5.27 	must be paid within 30 days. This lump-sum payment may be discounted to the present 
5.28 	value calculated up to a maximum five percent basis. If the employee does not choose to 
5.29 	receive the compensation in a lump sum, then the compensation is payable in installments 
5.30 	at the same intervals and in the same amount as the employee's temporary total disability 
5.31 	rate on the date of injury. Permanent partial disability is not payable while temporary total 
5.32 	compensation is being paid.

5.33 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

6.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.104, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
6.2 		Subdivision 1.Dispute. If there exists a dispute regarding medical causation or whether 
6.3 	an injury arose out of and in the course and scope of employment and an employee is 
6.4 	otherwise eligible for rehabilitation services under section 176.102 prior to determination 
6.5 	of liability, the employee shall be referred by the commissioner to the department's Vocational 
6.6 	Rehabilitation Unit which shall provide rehabilitation consultation if appropriate.  If the 
6.7 	sole dispute is regarding discontinuance of compensation, an employee eligible for 
6.8 	rehabilitation services may be referred to the Vocational Rehabilitation Unit only after the 
6.9 	employee or employer has filed an objection under section 176.238, subdivision 6, to the 
6.10 	administrative decision on discontinuance. The services provided by the department's 
6.11 	Vocational Rehabilitation Unit and the scope and term of the rehabilitation are governed 
6.12 	by section 176.102 and rules adopted pursuant to that section. Rehabilitation costs and 
6.13 	services under this subdivision shall be monitored by the commissioner.

6.14 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2024.

6.15 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.106, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.16 		Subd. 4.Appearances. All parties shall appear either personally, by telephone, by 
6.17 	electronic means, by representative, or by written submission. The commissioner's designee 
6.18 	or compensation judge shall determine the method of appearance and issues in dispute based 
6.19 	upon the information available at the conference.

6.20 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.129, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
6.21 		Subd. 10.Penalty. Sums paid to the commissioner pursuant to this section shall be in 
6.22 	the manner prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner may impose a penalty 
6.23 	payable to the commissioner for deposit in the assigned risk safety account of up to 15 
6.24 	percent of the amount due under this section but not less than $1,000 in the event payment 
6.25 	is not made or reports are not submitted in the manner prescribed. In addition to a penalty 
6.26 	under this subdivision, in the event payment is not made within six months of the due date, 
6.27 	the commissioner shall refer the self-insured employer or insurer's file to the Department 
6.28 	of Commerce for consideration of license or permit revocation.

6.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for due dates on or after the day following 
6.30 	final enactment.

7.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.1292, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
7.2 		Subd. 2.Payment of permanent total disability benefits to employees, dependents, 
7.3 	and legal heirs. (a) A payer is entitled to the relief described in subdivisions 3 and 4 only 
7.4 	if the payer complies with all of the conditions in paragraphs (b) to (d) for all of the payer's 
7.5 	permanently totally disabled employees and documents compliance according to the 
7.6 	procedures and forms established by the commissioner under subdivision 7.
7.7 	(b) Except as provided in paragraph (e), the payer must:
7.8 	(1) recharacterize supplementary benefits paid to all employees as permanent total 
7.9 	disability benefits if the supplementary benefits were paid because the permanent total 
7.10 	disability benefits were reduced by retirement benefits received by the employee;
7.11 	(2) pay all permanently totally disabled employees, regardless of the date of injury, past 
7.12 	and future permanent total disability benefits calculated without any reduction for retirement 
7.13 	benefits received by the employees, from the date the employees' benefits were first reduced; 
7.14 	and
7.15 	(3) for all deceased employees, pay the employees' dependents or, if none, the employees' 
7.16 	legal heirs, the permanent total disability benefits the deceased employees would have 
7.17 	received if the benefits had been calculated without any reduction for retirement benefits 
7.18 	received by the employees.
7.19 	(c) A payer may take a credit against its obligations under paragraph (b), clauses (2) and 
7.20 	(3), for:
7.21 	(1) supplementary benefits previously paid to an employee that have been recharacterized 
7.22 	as permanent total disability benefits under paragraph (b), clause (1); and
7.23 	(2) permanent total disability benefits previously paid to an employee.
7.24 	(d) The payer must pay the permanent total disability benefits as provided in paragraphs 
7.25 	(b) and (c) within the time frames described in clauses (1) to (4). More than one time frame 
7.26 	may apply to a claim.
7.27 	(1) No later than 150 days following May 30, 2017, the payer must begin paying the 
7.28 	recalculated permanent total disability benefit amounts to employees who are entitled to 
7.29 	ongoing permanent total disability benefits.
7.30 	(2) No later than 210 days following May 30, 2017, the payer must pay employees the 
7.31 	amounts that past permanent total disability benefits were underpaid.
8.1 	(3) No later than 270 days following May 30, 2017, the payer must pay the employees' 
8.2 	dependents or legal heirs the amounts that permanent total disability benefits were underpaid.
8.3 	(4) The commissioner may waive payment under paragraphs (b) and (c) or extend these 
8.4 	time frames if the payer, after making a good-faith effort, is unable to: locate an employee; 
8.5 	identify or locate the dependents or legal heirs of a deceased employee; or locate 
8.6 	documentation to determine the amount of an underpayment.
8.7 	(e) Paragraphs (a) to (d) do not apply if:
8.8 	(1) the employee died before January 1, 2008;
8.9 	(2) the employee's last permanent total disability benefit was paid before January 1, 
8.10 	2000;
8.11 	(3) the employee's last permanent total disability benefit would have been paid before 
8.12 	January 1, 2000, if it had not been reduced by his or her the employee's retirement benefits;
8.13 	(4) a stipulation for settlement, signed by the employee and approved by a compensation 
8.14 	judge, provided for a full, final, and complete settlement of permanent total disability benefits 
8.15 	under this chapter in exchange for a lump sum payment amount or a lump sum converted 
8.16 	to a structured annuity;
8.17 	(5) a final court order, or a stipulation for settlement signed by the employee and approved 
8.18 	by a compensation judge, explicitly states the employee's permanent total disability benefits 
8.19 	may be reduced by specified retirement benefits. Paragraphs (a) to (d) apply if a court order 
8.20 	or stipulation for settlement is ambiguous about whether the employee's permanent total 
8.21 	disability benefits could be reduced by retirement benefits; or
8.22 	(6) a final court order or a stipulation for settlement described in clause (4) or (5) was 
8.23 	vacated after May 31, 2017.

8.24 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.1292, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
8.25 		Subd. 9.Failure to comply. (a) If a payer reports to the department that it has complied 
8.26 	with the requirements of subdivision 2, paragraphs (a) to (d), but the payer has not paid an 
8.27 	employee, dependent, or legal heir, as required by subdivision 2, the payer is subject to the 
8.28 	following:
8.29 	(1) the payer must issue payment to the employee, dependent, or legal heir within 14 
8.30 	days of the date the payer discovers the noncompliance or the date the department notifies 
8.31 	the payer of the noncompliance;
9.1 	(2) the payer is not entitled to the relief provided in subdivisions 3 and 4 as applied to 
9.2 	the claim of the specific employee, dependent, or legal heir who was not paid as required 
9.3 	by subdivision 2;
9.4 	(3) the special compensation fund may immediately begin collection of any assessments 
9.5 	or over-reimbursement owed for the claim;
9.6 	(4) if the commissioner determines that a payer's failure to comply under this subdivision 
9.7 	was not in good faith, the commissioner may assess a penalty, payable to the employee, 
9.8 	dependent, or legal heir, of up to 25 percent of the total permanent total disability benefits 
9.9 	underpaid; and
9.10 	(5) if the payer is found after a hearing to be liable for increased or additional permanent 
9.11 	total disability benefits because the employee's permanent total disability benefits were 
9.12 	improperly reduced by his or herthe employee's retirement benefits, the compensation judge 
9.13 	shall assess a penalty against the payer, payable to the employee or dependent, up to the 
9.14 	total amount of the permanent total disability benefits that were not paid pursuant to 
9.15 	subdivision 2. The compensation judge may issue a penalty against the payer, up to the total 
9.16 	amount of the permanent total disability benefits underpaid, payable to a legal heir.
9.17 	(b) The penalties assessed under this subdivision are in addition to any other penalty 
9.18 	that may be, or is required to be, assessed under this chapter; however, the commissioner 
9.19 	shall not assess a penalty against a payer for late payment of permanent total disability 
9.20 	benefits if the employee's benefits have been paid and documented in accordance with 
9.21 	subdivision 2.
9.22 	(c) If a payer and the special compensation fund have agreed to a list of employees 
9.23 	required to be paid under subdivision 2, this subdivision does not apply to any claim with 
9.24 	a date of injury before October 1, 1995, that is not on the agreed-upon list.

9.25 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 176.155, subdivision 1, is amended 
9.26 	to read:
9.27 		Subdivision 1.Employer's physician. (a) The injured employee must submit to 
9.28 	examination by the employer's physician, if requested by the employer, and at reasonable 
9.29 	times thereafter upon the employer's request. Examinations shall not be conducted in hotel 
9.30 	or motel facilities. The examination must be scheduled at a location within 150 miles of the 
9.31 	employee's residence unless the employer can show cause to the department office to order 
9.32 	an examination at a location further from the employee's residence. The employee is entitled 
10.1 	upon request to have a personal physician or witness present at any such examination. Each 
10.2 	party shall defray the cost of that party's physician.
10.3 	(b) Any report or written statement made by the employer's physician as a result of an 
10.4 	examination of the employee, regardless of whether the examination preceded the injury 
10.5 	or was made subsequent to the injury or whether litigation is pending, must be served upon 
10.6 	the employee and the attorney representing the employee, if any, no later than 14 calendar 
10.7 	days within the issuance of the report or written statement.
10.8 	(c) The employer shall pay reasonable travel expenses incurred by the employee in 
10.9 	attending the examination including mileage, parking, and, if necessary, lodging and meals. 
10.10 	The employer shall also pay the employee for any lost wages resulting from attendance at 
10.11 	the examination.
10.12 	(d) A self-insured employer or insurer who is served with a claim petition pursuant to 
10.13 	section 176.271, subdivision 1, or 176.291, shall schedule any necessary examinations of 
10.14 	the employee, if an examination by the employer's physician or health care provider is 
10.15 	necessary to evaluate benefits claimed. The examination shall be completed and the report 
10.16 	of the examination shall be served on the employee and filed with the commissioner within 
10.17 	120 days of service of the claim petition. Any request for a good cause extension pursuant 
10.18 	to paragraph (e) must be made within 120 days of service of the claim petition, except that 
10.19 	a request may be made after 120 days of service of a claim petition in the following 
10.20 	circumstances:
10.21 	(1) a change to the employee's claim regarding the nature and extent of the injury;
10.22 	(2) a change to the permanency benefits claimed by the employee, including a change 
10.23 	in permanent partial disability percentage;
10.24 	(3) a new claim for indemnity benefits; or
10.25 	(4) the employment relationship is not admitted by the uninsured employer.
10.26 	(e) No evidence relating to the examination or report shall be received or considered by 
10.27 	the commissioner, a compensation judge, or the court of appeals in determining any issues 
10.28 	unless the report has been served and filed as required by this section, unless a written 
10.29 	extension has been granted by the commissioner or compensation judge. The commissioner 
10.30 	or a compensation judge shall extend the time for completing the adverse examination and 
10.31 	filing the report upon good cause shown. The extension must not be for the purpose of delay 
10.32 	and the insurer must make a good faith effort to comply with this subdivision. Good cause 
10.33 	shall include but is not limited to:
11.1 	(1) that the extension is necessary because of the limited number of physicians or health 
11.2 	care providers available with expertise in the particular injury or disease, or that the extension 
11.3 	is necessary due to the complexity of the medical issues, or
11.4 	(2) that the extension is necessary to gather additional information which was not included 
11.5 	on the petition as required by section 176.291.

11.6 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.155, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
11.7 		Subd. 2.Neutral physician. In each case of dispute as to the injury the commissioner 
11.8 	of labor and industry, or in case of a hearing the compensation judge conducting the hearing, 
11.9 	or the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals if the matter is before it, may with or 
11.10 	without the request of any interested party, designate a neutral physician to make an 
11.11 	examination of the injured worker and report the findings to the commissioner of labor and 
11.12 	industry, compensation judge, or the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, as the case 
11.13 	may be; provided that the request of the interested party must comply with the rules of the 
11.14 	commissioner of labor and industry and, the office, or the Workers' Compensation Court 
11.15 	of Appeals, regulating the proper time and forms for the request, and further provided that 
11.16 	when an interested party requests, not later than 30 days prior to a scheduled prehearing 
11.17 	conference, that a neutral physician be designated, the compensation judge shall make such 
11.18 	a designation. When a party has requested the designation of a neutral physician prior to a 
11.19 	prehearing conference, that party may withdraw the request at any time prior to the hearing. 
11.20 	The commissioner of labor and industry, compensation judge, or the Workers' Compensation 
11.21 	Court of Appeals, as the case may be, may request the neutral physician to answer any 
11.22 	particular question with reference to the medical phases of the case, including questions 
11.23 	calling for an opinion as to the cause and occurrence of the injury insofar as medical 
11.24 	knowledge is relevant in the answer. A copy of the signed certificate of the neutral physician 
11.25 	shall be mailed to the parties in interest and either party, within five days from date of 
11.26 	mailing, may demand that the physician be produced for purposes of cross-examination. 
11.27 	The signed certificate of a neutral physician is competent evidence of the facts stated therein. 
11.28 	The expense of the examination shall be paid as ordered by the commissioner of labor and 
11.29 	industry, compensation judge, or the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals.

11.30 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.231, subdivision 9a, is amended to read:
11.31 		Subd. 9a.Access to division file without an authorization; attorney access. (a) Access 
11.32 	to the division file established for a specific claimed date or dates of injury under this chapter 
12.1 	is allowed without an authorization from the employee, employer, or insurer, as described 
12.2 	in clauses (1) to (7):
12.3 	(1) an employee, as described in subdivision 9, paragraph (c), has access to the division 
12.4 	file established for the employee's claimed date or dates of injury;
12.5 	(2) an employer and insurer have access to the division file for a workers' compensation 
12.6 	claim to which the employer and insurer are parties;
12.7 	(3) the Department of Administration under section 13.43, subdivision 18, the assigned 
12.8 	risk plan under chapter 79, the special compensation fund established under section 176.129, 
12.9 	the self-insurers security fund under chapter 79A, and the Minnesota insurance guaranty 
12.10 	association under chapter 60C have access to all of the documents in the division file for a 
12.11 	claim to which they are a party or are otherwise providing, paying, or reimbursing workers' 
12.12 	compensation benefits under this chapter;
12.13 	(4) a person who has filed a motion to intervene in a pending dispute at an agency has 
12.14 	access to the documents in the division file that are filed in connection with the dispute in 
12.15 	which the person has filed a motion to intervene;
12.16 	(5) a registered rehabilitation provider assigned to provide rehabilitation services to an 
12.17 	employee has access to the documents in the division file that are filed in connection with 
12.18 	the employee's vocational rehabilitation or a dispute about vocational rehabilitation under 
12.19 	section 176.102;
12.20 	(6) a third-party administrator licensed under section 60A.23, subdivision 8, has access 
12.21 	to the division file for a claim it has contracted to administer on behalf of any of the entities 
12.22 	listed in this subdivision; and
12.23 	(7) the program administrator for a collective bargaining agreement approved by the 
12.24 	commissioner under section 176.1812 has access to the division file for a claim that is 
12.25 	covered by the agreement.
12.26 	(b) An attorney who has filed with the commissioner in CAMPUS a notice of 
12.27 	representation of a person or entity listed in paragraph (a) has the same access to documents 
12.28 	in the division file that the represented person or entity has, unless the attorney specifies 
12.29 	when filing the notice that access should be limited. If the attorney represents an employee 
12.30 	as described in subdivision 9, paragraph (c), one of the following documents signed by the 
12.31 	employee must be attached to the notice: a written authorization, a retainer agreement, or 
12.32 	a document initiating or responding to a workers' compensation dispute filed under this 
12.33 	chapter.
13.1 	(c) If the attorney's access is not limited by an authorization, notice of representation, 
13.2 	or the represented person or entity's access under paragraph (a), the attorney's access 
13.3 	continues until one of the following occurs, whichever is later:
13.4 	(1) one year after an authorization is filed;
13.5 	(2) five three years after the date a retainer agreement or notice of representation was 
13.6 	filed where no dispute has been initiated; or
13.7 	(3) five years after the date the attorney filed a document initiating, responding to, or 
13.8 	intervening in a workers' compensation dispute under this chapter; a retainer agreement or 
13.9 	notice of representation was filed where a dispute has been initiated by filing a document 
13.10 	specified in section 176.2611, subdivision 4.
13.11 	(4) five years after the date an award on stipulation was served and filed if the award 
13.12 	was related to a dispute in which the attorney represented a party in paragraph (a); or
13.13 	(5) five years after the date a final order or final penalty assessment was issued as defined 
13.14 	in subdivision 9c, paragraph (a), clause (3), if the final order or penalty assessment was 
13.15 	related to a dispute in which the attorney represented a party listed in paragraph (a).
13.16 	Notwithstanding the time frames in clauses (1) to (5) (3), an attorney no longer has access 
13.17 	to the division file as of the date the attorney files a notice of withdrawal from the case, or 
13.18 	the date the department receives written notice that the authorization is withdrawn or that 
13.19 	the attorney no longer represents the person. However, if a dispute over an attorney's fees 
13.20 	is pending at the office, the attorney has continued access to the division file until a final 
13.21 	order or award on stipulation resolving the attorney fee dispute is received by the 
13.22 	commissioner.
13.23 	(d) The division may provide the worker identification number assigned under section 
13.24 	176.275, subdivision 1, without a signed authorization required under paragraph (b) to an:
13.25 	(1) attorney who represents one of the persons described in paragraph (b);
13.26 	(2) attorney who represents an intervenor or potential intervenor under section 176.361;
13.27 	(3) intervenor; or
13.28 	(4) employee's assigned qualified rehabilitation consultant under section 176.102.
13.29 	(e) If the department receives information that indicates that identifying or contact 
13.30 	information for an employee, dependent, employer, insurer, or third-party administrator for 
13.31 	an employer or insurer is erroneous or no longer accurate, the department may update the 
13.32 	information in all relevant workers' compensation files to reflect:
14.1 	(1) the current and accurate name, address, Social Security number or worker 
14.2 	identification number, and contact information for an employee, unless the employee notifies 
14.3 	the commissioner in writing that the information in a workers' compensation file for a 
14.4 	specific date of injury may not be updated; and
14.5 	(2) the current and accurate name, address, and contact information for an employer, 
14.6 	insurer, or third-party administrator for an employer or insurer.

14.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2024.

14.8 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.238, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
14.9 		Subd. 3.Interim administrative decision. An employee may request the commissioner
14.10 	office to schedule an administrative discontinuance conference to obtain an expedited interim 
14.11 	decision concerning the discontinuance of compensation. Procedures relating to 
14.12 	discontinuance conferences are set forth in section 176.239.

14.13 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.238, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
14.14 		Subd. 4.Objection to discontinuance. An employee may serve on the employer and 
14.15 	file with the commissioneroffice an objection to discontinuance if:
14.16 	(1) the employee elects not to request an administrative conference under section 176.239;
14.17 	(2) if the employee fails to timely proceed under that section;
14.18 	(3) if the discontinuance is not governed by that section; or
14.19 	(4) if the employee disagrees with the interim administrative decision issued under that 
14.20 	section. Within ten calendar days after receipt of an objection to discontinuance, the 
14.21 	commissioneroffice shall referschedule the matter to the office for a de novo hearing before 
14.22 	a compensation judge to determine the right of the employee to further compensation.

14.23 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.238, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
14.24 		Subd. 5.Petition to discontinue. Instead of filing a notice of discontinuance, an employer 
14.25 	may serve on the employee and file with the commissioner office a petition to discontinue 
14.26 	compensation. A petition to discontinue compensation may also be used when the employer 
14.27 	disagrees with the interim administrative decision under section 176.239. Within ten calendar 
14.28 	days after receipt of a petition to discontinue, the commissioner office shall refer schedule
14.29 	the matter to the office for a de novo hearing before a compensation judge to determine the 
14.30 	right of the employer to discontinue compensation.
15.1 	The petition shall include copies of medical reports or other written reports or evidence 
15.2 	in the possession of the employer bearing on the physical condition or other present status 
15.3 	of the employee which relate to the proposed discontinuance. The employer shall continue 
15.4 	payment of compensation until the filing of the decision of the compensation judge and 
15.5 	thereafter as the compensation judge, court of appeals, or the supreme court directs, unless, 
15.6 	during the interim, occurrences arise justifying the filing of a notice under subdivision 1 or 
15.7 	2 and the discontinuance is permitted by the commissioner's order or no conference under 
15.8 	section 176.239 is requested.

15.9 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.238, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
15.10 		Subd. 6. Expedited hearing before compensation judge. (a) A hearing before a 
15.11 	compensation judge shall be held within 60 calendar days after the office receives the file 
15.12 	from the commissioner filing of the objection to discontinuance or petition to discontinue 
15.13 	if:
15.14 	(1) an objection to discontinuance has been filed under subdivision 4 within 60 calendar 
15.15 	days after the notice of discontinuance was filed and where no administrative conference 
15.16 	has been held;
15.17 	(2) an objection to discontinuance has been filed under subdivision 4 within 60 calendar 
15.18 	days after an interim administrative decision under this section has been issued;
15.19 	(3) a petition to discontinue has been filed by the employer or insurer in lieu of filing a 
15.20 	notice of discontinuance; or
15.21 	(4) a petition to discontinue has been filed within 60 calendar days after the interim 
15.22 	administrative decision under this section has been issued.
15.23 	(b) If the petition or objection is filed later than the deadlines listed above, the expedited 
15.24 	procedures in this section apply only where the employee is unemployed at the time of filing 
15.25 	the objection and shows, to the satisfaction of the chief administrative judge, by sworn 
15.26 	affidavit, that the failure to file the objection within the deadlines was due to some infirmity 
15.27 	or incapacity of the employee or to circumstances beyond the employee's control. The 
15.28 	hearing shall be limited to the issues raised by the notice or petition unless all parties agree 
15.29 	to expanding the issues. If the issues are expanded, the time limits for hearing and issuance 
15.30 	of a decision by the compensation judge under this subdivision shall not apply.
15.31 	(c) Once a hearing date has been set, a continuance of the hearing date will be granted 
15.32 	only under the following circumstances:
16.1 	(1) the employer has agreed, in writing, to a continuation of the payment of benefits 
16.2 	pending the outcome of the hearing; or
16.3 	(2) the employee has agreed, in a document signed by the employee, that benefits may 
16.4 	be discontinued pending the outcome of the hearing.
16.5 	(d) Absent a clear showing of surprise at the hearing or the unexpected unavailability 
16.6 	of a crucial witness, all evidence must be introduced at the hearing. If it is necessary to 
16.7 	accept additional evidence or testimony after the scheduled hearing date, it must be submitted 
16.8 	no later than 14 days following the hearing, unless the compensation judge, for good cause, 
16.9 	determines otherwise.
16.10 	(e) When a compensation judge issued the interim administrative decision, the de novo 
16.11 	hearing under paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (4), must be held before a compensation judge 
16.12 	other than the compensation judge who presided over the administrative conference. The 
16.13 	compensation judge shall issue a decision pursuant to this subdivision within 30 days 
16.14 	following the close of the hearing record.

16.15 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.239, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
16.16 		Subd. 2.Request for administrative conference. If the employee disagrees with the 
16.17 	notice of discontinuance, the employee may request that the commissioneroffice schedule 
16.18 	an administrative conference to be conducted pursuant to this section.
16.19 	If temporary total, temporary partial, or permanent total compensation has been 
16.20 	discontinued because the employee has returned to work, and the employee believes benefits 
16.21 	should be reinstated due to occurrences during the initial 14 calendar days of the employee's 
16.22 	return to work, the employee's request must be received by the commissioneroffice within 
16.23 	30 calendar days after the employee has returned to work. If the employer has failed to 
16.24 	properly serve and file the notice as provided in section 176.238, the employee's time period 
16.25 	to request an administrative conference is extended up to and including the 40th calendar 
16.26 	day subsequent to the return to work.
16.27 	If temporary total, temporary partial, or permanent total compensation has been 
16.28 	discontinued for a reason other than a return to work, the employee's request must be received 
16.29 	by the commissioneroffice within 12 calendar days after the notice of discontinuance is 
16.30 	received by the commissioner. If the employer discontinues compensation without giving 
16.31 	notice as required by section 176.238, the employee's time period for requesting an 
16.32 	administrative conference is extended up to and including the 40th calendar day after which 
16.33 	the notice should have been served and filed.
17.1 	The commissioneroffice may determine that an administrative conference is not necessary 
17.2 	under this section for reasons prescribed by rule and permit the employer to discontinue 
17.3 	compensation, subject to the employee's right to file an objection to discontinuance under 
17.4 	section 176.238, subdivision 4.
17.5 	In lieu of making a written request for an administrative conference with the 
17.6 	commissioner office, an employee may make an in-person or telephone request for the 
17.7 	administrative conference.

17.8 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.239, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
17.9 		Subd. 3.Payment through date of discontinuance conference. (a) If a notice of 
17.10 	discontinuance has been served and filed due to the employee's return to work, and the 
17.11 	employee requests a conference, the employer is not obligated to reinstate or otherwise pay 
17.12 	temporary total, temporary partial, or permanent total compensation unless so ordered by 
17.13 	the commissioner compensation judge.
17.14 	(b) When an administrative conference is conducted under circumstances in which the 
17.15 	employee has not returned to work, compensation shall be paid through the date of the 
17.16 	administrative conference unless:
17.17 	(1) the employee has returned to work since the notice was filed;
17.18 	(2) the employee fails to appear at the scheduled administrative conference; or
17.19 	(3) due to unusual circumstances or pursuant to the rules of the division, the commissioner
17.20 	compensation judge orders otherwise.

17.21 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.239, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
17.22 		Subd. 4.Scheduling of conference. If the employee timely requests an administrative 
17.23 	conference under this section, the commissioneroffice shall schedule a conference within 
17.24 	ten calendar days after receiving the request.

17.25 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.239, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
17.26 		Subd. 5.Continuances. An employee or employer may request a continuance of a 
17.27 	scheduled administrative conference. If the commissionercompensation judge determines 
17.28 	there is good cause for a continuance, the commissionercompensation judge may grant the 
17.29 	continuance for not more than 14 calendar days unless the parties agree to a longer 
17.30 	continuance. If compensation is payable through the day of the administrative conference 
17.31 	pursuant to subdivision 3, and the employee is granted a continuance, compensation need 
18.1 	not be paid during the period of continuance unless the commissionercompensation judge 
18.2 	orders otherwise. If the employer is granted a continuance and compensation is payable 
18.3 	through the day of the administrative conference pursuant to subdivision 3, then compensation 
18.4 	shall continue to be paid during the continuance. The commissionercompensation judge 
18.5 	may grant an unlimited number of continuances provided that payment of compensation 
18.6 	during any continuance is subject to this subdivision.

18.7 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 176.239, subdivision 6, is amended 
18.8 	to read:
18.9 		Subd. 6.Scope of the administrative decision. If benefits have been discontinued due 
18.10 	to the employee's return to work, the commissionercompensation judge shall determine 
18.11 	whether, as a result of occurrences arising during the initial 14 calendar days after the return 
18.12 	to work, the employee is entitled to additional payment of temporary total, temporary partial, 
18.13 	or permanent total compensation.
18.14 	If periodic payment of temporary total, temporary partial, or permanent total 
18.15 	compensation has been discontinued for reasons other than a return to work, the commissioner
18.16 	compensation judge shall determine whether the employer has reasonable grounds to support 
18.17 	the discontinuance. Only reasons specified on the notice of discontinuance shall provide a 
18.18 	basis for a discontinuance, unless the parties agree otherwise.

18.19 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 176.239, subdivision 7, is amended 
18.20 	to read:
18.21 		Subd. 7.Interim administrative decision. After considering the information provided 
18.22 	by the parties at the administrative conference and exhibits filed by the parties with the 
18.23 	office, the commissioner compensation judge shall issue to all interested parties a written 
18.24 	decision on payment of compensation. Administrative decisions under this section shall be 
18.25 	issued within five working days from the close of the conference. Disputed issues of fact 
18.26 	shall be determined by a preponderance of the evidence.

18.27 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.239, subdivision 9, is amended to read:
18.28 		Subd. 9.Administrative decision binding; effect of subsequent determinations. The 
18.29 	interim administrative decision under this section is binding upon the parties and the rights 
18.30 	and obligations of the parties are governed by the decision.
18.31 	If an objection or a petition is filed under subdivision 8, the interim administrative 
18.32 	decision remains in effect and the parties' obligations or rights to pay or receive compensation 
19.1 	are governed by the interim administrative decision, pending a determination by a 
19.2 	compensation judge pursuant to section 176.238, subdivision 6.
19.3 	If the commissioner has denied a discontinuance or otherwise ordered commencement 
19.4 	of benefits has been denied, the employer shall continue paying compensation until an order 
19.5 	is issued by a compensation judge, the court of appeals, or the supreme court, allowing 
19.6 	compensation to be discontinued, or unless, during the interim, occurrences arise justifying 
19.7 	the filing of a notice under section 176.238, subdivision 1 or 2, and the discontinuance is 
19.8 	permitted by the commissioner compensation judge or no conference is requested. If a 
19.9 	compensation judge after a de novo hearing, the court of appeals, or the supreme court later 
19.10 	rules that the discontinuance was proper or that benefits were otherwise not owing the 
19.11 	employee, payments made under the interim administrative decision and order shall be 
19.12 	treated as an overpayment which the insurer may recover from the employee subject to 
19.13 	section 176.179.
19.14 	If the commissioner compensation judge has permitted a discontinuance or otherwise 
19.15 	not ordered commencement of benefits, the service and filing of the administrative decision 
19.16 	relieves the employer from further liability for compensation subject to the right of review 
19.17 	afforded by this chapter.

19.18 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.239, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
19.19 		Subd. 10.Application of section. This section is applicable to all cases in which the 
19.20 	employee's request for an administrative conference is received by the divisionoffice after 
19.21 	July 1, 1987, even if the injury occurred prior to July 1, 1987. This section shall not apply 
19.22 	to those employees who have been adjudicated permanently totally disabled, or to those 
19.23 	employees who have been administratively determined pursuant to division rules to be 
19.24 	permanently totally disabled.

19.25 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.253, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
19.26 		Subd. 2.General. Where this chapter requires an employer to perform an act, the insurer 
19.27 	of the employer may perform that act. Where the insurer acts inon behalf of the employer, 
19.28 	the employer is responsible for the authorized acts of the insurer and for any delay, failure, 
19.29 	or refusal of the insurer to perform the act. This section does not relieve the employer from 
19.30 	any penalty or forfeiture which this chapter imposes on the employer.

20.1 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.2611, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
20.2 		Subd. 7.Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals. The Workers' Compensation 
20.3 	Court of Appeals has authority to amend its rules of procedure to reflect electronic filing 
20.4 	with the office under this section for purposes of section 176.421, subdivision 5, and to 
20.5 	allow electronic filing with the court under section 176.285. The court may amend its rules 
20.6 	using the procedure in section 14.389. Section 14.125 does not apply to the agency's 
20.7 	rulemaking authority under this section and sections 176.281, paragraph (d), and 176.285, 
20.8 	subdivision 2a.

20.9 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.271, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
20.10 		Subdivision 1.Written petition. Unless otherwise provided by this chapter or by the 
20.11 	commissioner, all proceedings under this chapter are initiated by the filing of a written 
20.12 	petition on a prescribed form with the commissioner at the commissioner's principal office
20.13 	department or office. All claim petitions shall include the information required by section 
20.14 	176.291.

20.15 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.275, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
20.16 		Subdivision 1.Filing. If a document is required to be filed by this chapter or any rules 
20.17 	adopted pursuant to authority granted by this chapter, the filing shall be completed upon 
20.18 	acceptance of the document by the agency. Any document that lacks information required 
20.19 	by statute or rule, or is not filed in the manner and format required by this chapter, may be 
20.20 	rejected. A document rejected for any of these reasons is not considered filed. An agency 
20.21 	is not required to maintain, and may destroy, a duplicate of a document that has already 
20.22 	been filed. If a workers' compensation identification number has been assigned by the 
20.23 	department, it must be substituted for the Social Security number on a document. The 
20.24 	commissioner may request additional proof of an injured worker's identity before assigning 
20.25 	an identification number.
20.26 	A notice or other document required to be served or filed at either the department, the 
20.27 	office, or the court of appeals which is inadvertently served or filed at the wrong one of 
20.28 	these agencies by an unrepresented employee shall be deemed to have been served or filed 
20.29 	with the proper agency. The receiving agency shall note the date of receipt of a document 
20.30 	and shall forward the documents to the proper agency no later than two working days 
20.31 	following receipt.

20.32 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

21.1 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.285, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
21.2 		Subd. 2.Electronic service and filing on an agency. (a) Where a statute or rule 
21.3 	authorizes or requires a document to be filed with or served on the office, the document 
21.4 	maymust be filed electronically if electronic filing is authorized by the office and if the 
21.5 	document is transmitted in the manner and in the format specified by the office. Where a 
21.6 	statute or rule authorizes or requires a document to be filed with or served on the 
21.7 	commissioner or the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, the document must be filed 
21.8 	electronically in the manner and format specified by the commissioner. An employee must 
21.9 	not be required to file a document electronically at any agency unless the document is filed 
21.10 	by an attorney on behalf of the employee.
21.11 	(b) If electronic filing of a document is authorized by the office or required under this 
21.12 	subdivision and a statute or rule requires a copy of the document to be provided or served 
21.13 	on another person or party, the document filed electronically with the agency and provided 
21.14 	or served on the other person or party must contain the same information in the format 
21.15 	required by the agency.
21.16 	(c) For purposes of serving on and filing with an agency under this chapter, "electronic" 
21.17 	and "electronically" excludes facsimile and email unless authorized by the agency. A 
21.18 	document is deemed filed with an agency on the business day it is accepted for filing on or 
21.19 	before 11:59 p.m.

21.20 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.285, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
21.21 		Subd. 2a.Electronic signatures. (a) Where a statute or rule authorizes or requires a 
21.22 	person's signature on a document to be filed with or served on an agency, the signature may 
21.23 	be an electronic signature, as defined by section 325L.02, or transmitted electronically, if 
21.24 	authorized by the agency and if the signature is transmitted in the manner and format 
21.25 	specified by the agency. The commissioner may require that a document authorized or 
21.26 	required to be filed with the commissioner, department, or division be filed electronically 
21.27 	in the manner and format specified by the commissioner, except that an employee must not 
21.28 	be required to file a document electronically unless the document is filed by an attorney on 
21.29 	behalf of an employee. The department, Workers Compensation Court of Appeals, or court
21.30 	office may adopt rules for the certification of signatures. Section 14.125 does not apply to 
21.31 	the rulemaking authority under this section.
21.32 	(b) If a rehabilitation provider files a rehabilitation plan or other document that requires 
21.33 	the signature of the employee, employer, or insurer pursuant to section 176.102, or rules 
21.34 	adopted under section 176.102, the rehabilitation provider shall specify whether each party's 
22.1 	signature has been obtained. The rehabilitation provider must retain the document with the 
22.2 	original signature or signatures of the employee and insurer or self-insured employer for 
22.3 	five years after the rehabilitation plan is closed and must make the signed document available 
22.4 	to the commissioner or compensation judge upon request.

22.5 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.285, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:
22.6 		Subd. 2b.Electronic service of documents on party through office case management 
22.7 	system or CAMPUS. (a) The office may serve a document electronically on a payer, 
22.8 	rehabilitation provider, or attorney. The office may serve a document on any other party if 
22.9 	the recipient agrees to receive it in an electronic format. The date of electronic service of a 
22.10 	document is the date the recipient is sent a document electronically, or the date the recipient 
22.11 	is notified that the document is available on a website, whichever occurs first. The office 
22.12 	and a party may electronically serve through the office's case management system a document 
22.13 	required to be served on a party or filed with the office on any person with an account in 
22.14 	the case management system.
22.15 	(b) The commissioner, the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, and a party may 
22.16 	electronically serve through CAMPUS a document required to be served on a party or filed 
22.17 	with the commissioner on any person with an account in CAMPUS under section 176.2612. 
22.18 	Service through CAMPUS must be either by secure email or by emailing a notice that the 
22.19 	document may be accessed through a web portal. Service of a document through CAMPUS 
22.20 	on an attorney for a party is considered to be service on the party, except where service on 
22.21 	the employee is specifically required by this chapter.
22.22 	(c) An employee must not be electronically served unless the employee has created an 
22.23 	account and has agreed to accept electronic service through the office's case management 
22.24 	system or CAMPUS.
22.25 	(d) The date of electronic service of a document is the date the recipient is sent a 
22.26 	document electronically, or the date the recipient is notified that the document is available 
22.27 	on a website, whichever occurs first.

22.28 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.305, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
22.29 		Subdivision 1.Hearings on petitions. The petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition 
22.30 	on each adverse party personally or by first class mail. A clearand file a copy shall be filed
22.31 	with the office, together with an appropriate affidavit of service. Service and filing must be 
22.32 	made as provided under section 176.285, subdivisions 1 and 2.

23.1 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.321, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
23.2 		Subd. 3.Extension of time in which to file answer. Upon showing of cause, the office 
23.3 	may extend the time in which to file an answer or reply for not more than 30 additional 
23.4 	days. The time to file an answer or reply may also be extended upon agreement of the 
23.5 	petitioner, and provided that the office must be notified in writing by the employer no later 
23.6 	than five days beyond the time required for the filing of the answer of the fact that an 
23.7 	agreement has been reached, including the length of the extension. Any case received by 
23.8 	the office that does not include an answer, written extension order, or written notification 
23.9 	of the extension agreement shall be immediately set for apretrial conference and hearing 
23.10 	at the first available date under section 176.331.

23.11 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.322, is amended to read:
23.12 	176.322 DECISIONS BASED ON STIPULATED FACTS.
23.13 	If the parties agree to a stipulated set of facts and only legal issues remain, the 
23.14 	commissioner or compensation judge may determine the matter without a hearing based 
23.15 	upon the stipulated facts and the determination is appealable to the court of appeals pursuant 
23.16 	to sections 176.421 and 176.442. In any case where a stipulated set of facts has been 
23.17 	submitted pursuant to this section, upon receipt of the file or the stipulated set of facts the 
23.18 	chief administrative law judge shall immediately assign the case to a compensation judge 
23.19 	for a determination. The judge shall issue a determination within 60 days after receipt of 
23.20 	the stipulated facts.

23.21 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.341, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
23.22 		Subd. 6.Significant financial hardship; expedited hearings. An employee may file 
23.23 	a request for an expedited hearing which must be granted upon a showing of significant 
23.24 	financial hardship. In determining whether a significant financial hardship exists, 
23.25 	consideration shall be given to whether the employee is presently employed, the employee's 
23.26 	income from all sources, the nature and extent of the employee's expenses and debts, whether 
23.27 	the employee is the sole support of any dependents, whether either foreclosure of homestead 
23.28 	property or repossession of necessary personal property is imminent, and any other matters 
23.29 	which have a direct bearing on the employee's ability to provide food, clothing, and shelter 
23.30 	for the employee and any dependents.
23.31 	A request for an expedited hearing must be accompanied by a sworn affidavit of the 
23.32 	employee providing facts necessary to satisfy the criteria for a significant financial hardship. 
23.33 	The request may be made at the time a claim petition is filed or any time thereafter. Unless 
24.1 	the employer objects to the request in the answer to the claim petition or within 20 calendar 
24.2 	days of the filing of a request made subsequent to the filing of the claim petition, the affidavit 
24.3 	is a sufficient showing of significant financial hardship.
24.4 	If a request for an expedited hearing has been served and filed, the commissioner or
24.5 	compensation judge shall issue an order granting grant or denying deny the request, provided 
24.6 	that where the parties agree that significant financial hardship exists or no objection to the 
24.7 	request is timely filed, the request is automatically granted and the compensation judge or 
24.8 	commissioner need not issue an order. If it is denied, the matter will be returned to the 
24.9 	regular calendar of cases and the request for an expedited hearing may be renewed at a 
24.10 	settlement conference. If no objection has been timely filed or if the request is granted, the 
24.11 	commissioner shall immediately refer the matter to the office to commence prehearing 
24.12 	procedures.
24.13 	The calendar judge shall issue a prehearing order and notice of the date, time, and place 
24.14 	for a prehearing conference which shall be set for no later than 45 days following the filing 
24.15 	of the affidavit of significant financial hardship. The prehearing order shall require the 
24.16 	parties to serve and file prehearing statements no later than five working days prior to the 
24.17 	date set for the prehearing conference. The prehearing statements shall include those items 
24.18 	listed in the joint rules of the division and the office which the calendar judge deems 
24.19 	appropriate.
24.20 	Following any prehearing conference and absent an agreement or stipulation from the 
24.21 	parties, the commissioner or compensation judge shall issue an order establishing deadlines 
24.22 	for the parties to complete their preparation for hearing and, after consultation with the 
24.23 	calendar judge, establishing the date, time, and place for a hearing.

24.24 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.361, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
24.25 		Subdivision 1.Right to intervene. A person who has an interest in any matter before 
24.26 	the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, or commissioner, or compensation judge
24.27 	office such that the person may either gain or lose by an order or decision may intervene in 
24.28 	the proceeding by filing a motion in writing stating the facts which show the interest. The 
24.29 	commissioner is considered to have an interest and shall be permitted to intervene at the 
24.30 	appellate level when a party relies in its claim or defense upon any statute or rule administered 
24.31 	by the commissioner, or upon any rule, order, requirement, or agreement issued or made 
24.32 	under the statute or rule.
24.33 	The commissioner may adopt rules, not inconsistent with this section to govern 
24.34 	intervention. The Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals shall adopt rules to govern the 
25.1 	procedure for intervention in matters before it. The office may adopt rules to govern the 
25.2 	procedure for intervention in matters before it.
25.3 	If the Department of Human Services or the Department of Employment and Economic 
25.4 	Development seeks to intervene in any matter before the division, a compensation judge or 
25.5 	the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, a nonattorney employee of the department, 
25.6 	acting at the direction of the staff of the attorney general, may prepare, sign, serve and file 
25.7 	motions for intervention and related documents, attend prehearing conferences, and 
25.8 	participate in matters before a compensation judge or the Workers' Compensation Court of 
25.9 	Appeals. Any other interested party may intervene using a nonattorney and may participate 
25.10 	in any proceeding to the same extent an attorney could. This activity shall not be considered 
25.11 	to be the unauthorized practice of law. An intervenor represented by a nonattorney shall be 
25.12 	deemed to be represented by an attorney for the purposes of the conclusive presumption of 
25.13 	section 176.521, subdivision 2.
25.14 	Subdivisions 3 to 6 do not apply to the following proceedings conducted by the 
25.15 	Department of Labor and Industry or the office: mediation proceedings; discontinuance 
25.16 	conferences under section 176.239; or administrative conferences under section 176.106.

25.17 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.361, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
25.18 		Subd. 4.Attendance by intervenor. A person who has submitted a timely written motion 
25.19 	to intervene, as required by subdivision 2, is not required to attend settlement or pretrial 
25.20 	conferences or the hearing, unless attendance is ordered by the compensation judge assigned 
25.21 	to the case, pursuant to a motion to require the intervenor's attendance filed by a party or 
25.22 	as a matter of the judge's discretion. A motion to require attendance must be served and 
25.23 	filed at least 20 days before a scheduled hearing proceeding, and the compensation judge 
25.24 	must serve and file an order granting or denying the motion at least ten days before a 
25.25 	scheduled hearing proceeding. If attendance is ordered, failure of the intervenor to attend 
25.26 	a proceeding either in person or, if approved by the compensation judge, by telephone or 
25.27 	some other electronic medium, shall result in the denial of the claim for reimbursement 
25.28 	except upon a showing of good cause. If attendance has not been ordered, this subdivision 
25.29 	does not prohibit an intervenor from attending a conference or hearing in person, or from 
25.30 	requesting permission from the compensation judge to attend a conference or hearing by 
25.31 	telephone or other electronic medium.

26.1 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 176.421, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
26.2 		Subd. 7.Record of proceedings. At the division'soffice's own expense, the commissioner
26.3 	office shall make a complete record of all formal proceedings before the commissioner and 
26.4 	shall provide a stenographer or an audio magnetic recording device to make the record of 
26.5 	the proceedings office.
26.6 	The commissioneroffice shall furnish a transcript of these proceedings to any person 
26.7 	who requests it and who pays a reasonable charge which shall be set by the commissioner
26.8 	office. Upon a showing of cause, the commissioner chief administrative law judge may 
26.9 	direct that a transcript be prepared without expense to the person requesting the transcript, 
26.10 	in which case the cost of the transcript shall be paid by the division office. Transcript fees 
26.11 	received under this subdivision shall be paid to the Workers' Compensation Division account 
26.12 	in the state treasury and shall be annually appropriated to the division for the sole purpose 
26.13 	of providing a record and transcripts as provided in this subdivision. This subdivision does 
26.14 	not apply to any administrative conference or other proceeding before the commissioner 
26.15 	which may be heard de novo in another proceeding including but not limited to proceedings 
26.16 	under section 176.106 or 176.239.