(1) Whenever a worker has a previous bodily disability from any previous injury or disease, whether known or unknown to the employer, and shall suffer a further disability from injury or occupational disease in employment covered by this title and become totally and permanently disabled from the combined effects thereof or die when death was substantially accelerated by the combined effects thereof, then the experience record of an employer insured with the state fund at the time of said further injury or disease shall be charged and a self-insured employer shall pay directly into the reserve fund only the accident cost which would have resulted solely from said further injury or disease, had there been no preexisting disability, and which accident cost shall be based upon an evaluation of the disability by medical experts. The difference between the charge thus assessed to such employer at the time of said further injury or disease and the total cost of the pension reserve shall be assessed against the second injury fund. The department shall pass upon the application of this section in all cases where benefits are paid for total permanent disability or death and issue an order thereon appealable by the employer. Pending outcome of such appeal the transfer or payment shall be made as required by such order.

     (2) The department shall, in cases of claims of workers sustaining injuries or occupational diseases in the employ of state fund employers, recompute the experience record of such employers when the claims of workers injured in their employ have been found to qualify for payments from the second injury fund after the regular time for computation of such experience records and the department may make appropriate adjustments in such cases including cash refunds or credits to such employers.

     (3) To encourage employment of injured workers who are not reemployed by the employer at the time of injury, the department may adopt rules providing for the reduction or elimination of premiums or assessments from subsequent employers of such workers and may also adopt rules for the reduction or elimination of charges against such employers in the event of further injury to such workers in their employ.

     (4) To encourage employment of injured workers who have a developmental disability as defined in RCW 71A.10.020, the department may adopt rules providing for the reduction or elimination of premiums or assessments from employers of such workers and may also adopt rules for the reduction or elimination of charges against their employers in the event of further injury to such workers in their employ.

[2004 c 258 § 1; 1984 c 63 § 1; 1980 c 14 § 7. Prior: 1977 ex.s. c 350 § 28; 1977 ex.s. c 323 § 13; 1972 ex.s. c 43 § 13; 1961 c 23 § 51.16.120; prior: 1959 c 308 § 16; 1945 c 219 § 1; 1943 c 16 § 1; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 7676-1a.]

NOTES:

     Severability -- Effective date -- 1977 ex.s. c 323: See notes following RCW 51.04.040.