Workers' compensation: Internet Web sites.

Existing law provides that a licensed rating organization shall make available specified policy information relating to workers' compensation insurance, as specified. This bill would provide that a licensed rating organization shall, pursuant to regulations adopted by the Insurance Commissioner after notice and hearing, establish and maintain an Internet Web site, as specified, for the purposes of assisting any person to determine whether an employer is insured for workers' compensation. This bill would specify who may submit an inquiry and for what purpose, what information shall be available on the Internet Web site, and would provide that a rating organization would not be required to disclose, on the Internet Web site, certain specified information or confidential information, as specified. The bill would provide that the Internet Web site shall be accessible for inquiries without charge, but the commissioner may at his or her discretion, permit the rating organization to impose access restrictions as necessary to deter the use of the Internet Web site for purposes other than which it was intended. This bill would provide that the Internet Web site contain specified information, or a hypertext link to insurer information on the Department of Industrial Relations' Internet Web site, and a hypertext link to the department for the purpose of locating employers who may be self-insured. This bill would require that the Internet Web site be operational within one year after adoption of regulations by the commissioner, and be updated as specified. This bill would require the commissioner to adopt regulations to implement this act and provide for dispute resolution regarding the accuracy of the information displayed on the Internet Web site. This bill would provide civil immunity, as specified, to rating organizations, and specified persons acting within their capacity as members of the organization, or employees acting within the scope of their employment, who release information. This bill would provide that it shall not be construed to create liability, as specified, or construed to limit the authority of a rating organization to disclose information contained in its records to others. This bill would require the commissioner to conduct a review, evaluation, and assessment of the Internet Web site, as specified, to provide a written report no later than July 1, 2013, of his or her findings to various state legislative and executive entities, and to make the report available on its own Internet Web site.