The industrial insurance premium refund account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All industrial insurance refunds earned by state agencies or institutions of higher education under the state fund retrospective rating program shall be deposited into the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures from the account. Only the executive head of the agency or institution of higher education, or designee, may authorize expenditures from the account. No agency or institution of higher education may make an expenditure from the account for an amount greater than the refund earned by the agency. If the agency or institution of higher education has staff dedicated to workers' compensation claims management, expenditures from the account must be used to pay for that staff, but additional expenditure from the account may be used for any program within an agency or institution of higher education that promotes or provides incentives for employee workplace safety and health and early, appropriate return-to-work for injured employees. During the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the industrial insurance premium refund account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the account.

Effective date—2011 c 5: See note following RCW 43.03.220.

Severability—Effective date—2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.

Severability—Effective date—2002 c 371: See notes following RCW 9.46.100.

Effective dates—Severability—1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following RCW 18.08.240.

Findings—Purpose—1990 c 204: "The legislature finds that workplace safety in state employment is of paramount importance in maintaining a productive and committed state workforce. The legislature also finds that recognition in state agencies and institutions of higher education of industrial insurance programs that provide safe working environments and promote early return-to-work for injured employees will encourage agencies and institutions of higher education to develop these programs. A purpose of this act is to provide incentives for agencies and institutions of higher education to participate in industrial insurance safety programs and return-to-work programs by authorizing use of the industrial insurance premium refunds earned by agencies or institutions of higher education participating in industrial insurance retrospective rating programs. Since agency and institution of higher education retrospective rating refunds are generated from safety performance and cannot be set at predictable levels determined by the budget process, the incentive awards should not impact an agency's or institution of higher education's legislatively approved budget." [ 1997 c 327 s 2; 1990 c 204 s 1.]

Effective date—1990 c 204 s 2: "Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1990." [ 1990 c 204 s 6.]