88R4074 RDS-F     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1640       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to conducting certain contested case hearings under the   Texas workers' compensation system by remote communication.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 410.005(a), Labor Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  Subject to Section 410.0055, unless [Unless] the   division determines that good cause exists for the selection of a   different location, a contested case hearing may not be conducted   at a site more than 75 miles from the claimant's residence at the   time of the injury.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 410, Labor Code, is   amended by adding Section 410.0055 to read as follows:          Sec. 410.0055.  CONDUCTING CERTAIN CONTESTED CASE HEARINGS   BY REMOTE COMMUNICATION. (a) This section applies only to a   contested case hearing in which the insurance carrier is:                (1)  the State Office of Risk Management;                (2)  The Texas A&M University System;                (3)  the Texas Department of Transportation; or                (4)  The University of Texas System.          (b)  The division shall conduct a contested case hearing to   which this section applies telephonically or by videoconference on   a showing by the insurance carrier or the carrier's representative   that conducting the hearing in that manner would reduce the costs   incurred by this state, including in employee time, resulting from   travel to and from the hearing location.          SECTION 3.  Section 410.0055, Labor Code, as added by this   Act, applies to a contested case hearing requested on or after the   effective date of this Act. A contested case hearing requested   before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in   effect on the date the contested case hearing was requested, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.