Yakima Convention & Event Center - Room B
10 North 8th Street
Yakima, WA 98901

The hearing will start at 10:00 a.m. and continue until all oral comments are received.

L&I encourages the submittal of written comments, due by 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2023.

The proposed rule amends the tables of classification base premium rates, experience rating plan parameters, and experience modification factor calculation limitations for the workers’ compensation insurance program for calendar year 2024. Classification base rates were updated to align with expected losses. The department proposes a 4.9% overall average premium rate change. Washington employers continue to deal with uncertainties associated with the pandemic and the global economy. In light of that, L&I is proposing an overall average rate increase of 4.9% to ensure premiums to cover most of the expected costs of 2024 claims. This increase is below the indicated break-even rate and consistent with our rate-making principle of keeping rates steady and predictable. This rate increase is required to partially account for three consecutive years of higher-than-normal increases in the state’s average wage. The department is able to minimize the increase for this upcoming year thanks to previous investment earnings that benefit the workers’ compensation contingency reserve (surplus). The proposed rule is also notice that the Director intends to transfer the amount of the accident and medical-aid funds combined that exceed 10% of funded liabilities as required by RCW 51.44.023. The proposed rule also recommends repealing WAC 296-17-871 Director’s discretion for incurred losses on claims with vocational plans, as this rule became obsolete with the 2015 amendment to RCW 51.32.096 Vocational rehabilitation benefits and options – Advisory committee – Procedures – Requirements – Definitions – Costs. The amendment to RCW 51.32.096 clarified that the vocational costs paid from the medical aid fund may not be charged to the state fund employer’s cost experience, which was the intent of WAC 296-17-871 when created in 2010.