Allowing self-insurers to accept certain industrial insurance claims

SB 5997 modifies Washington State's workers' compensation rules to require self-insurers (companies that self-fund their workers' compensation) to make claim decisions faster. It shortens deadlines: self-insurers must issue allowance orders within 30 days (down from 60) of a claim notice and must notify the department about provisional claims within 65 days if they miss the deadline. The bill clarifies that payments made without a formal award don't bind self-insurers to future payments or workers' rights. This directly affects self-insurers and injured workers by streamlining claim processing and reducing delays in compensation decisions. The changes apply to industrial insurance claims under Washington's workers' compensation system.