Rhode Island § 28-37-1 - Workers’ Compensation Administrative Fund

§ 28-37-1. Establishment — Sources — Administration.

(a) There is established in the department of labor and training a special account to be known as the workers’ compensation administrative account, an account within the general fund. This account, referred to as the “workers’ compensation administrative account,” shall consist of payments made to it as provided in this chapter, or penalties paid pursuant to this chapter, and of all other moneys paid into and received by the fund, of property and securities acquired by and through the use of moneys belonging to the fund, and of interest earned upon the moneys belonging to the fund. All moneys in the fund shall be mingled and undivided. The fund shall be administered by the director of labor and training or his or her designee.

(b) The purposes for which this fund shall be used are as follows:

(1) To provide funds to the Chief Judge Robert F. Arrigan rehabilitation center for suitable structures, personnel, and equipment necessary for the rendering of rehabilitative services, including, but not limited to, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and occupational therapy to injured workers coming within the purview of chapters 29 — 38 of this title;

(2) To provide funds for all expenditures of the education unit created pursuant to § 42-16.1-5 and all expenditures of the workers’ compensation fraud prevention unit created pursuant to § 42-16.1-12;

(3) To provide funds for all expenditures of the workers’ compensation court. The administrator of the fund shall on July 1 of each fiscal year transfer those funds that are reasonable and necessary to fund all expenditures of the workers’ compensation court for the fiscal year from the administrative account, to a restricted receipt account to be established in the judicial department. The administrator of the workers’ compensation court is authorized to draw funds from the restricted receipt account for all court expenditures;

(4) To provide funds to the department of labor and training for all expenditures incurred in administering its responsibilities under chapters 29 — 38 of this title;

(5) To provide funds to the department of labor and training for all expenditures incurred in investigating and processing or otherwise administering its responsibilities regarding claims for benefits or payments under § 28-35-20, § 28-37-4 [repealed], and § 28-37-8;

(6) To provide funds to the department of labor and training for the maintenance and operation of a system of data collection as provided for in § 28-37-31. The director shall be authorized to purchase and/or lease equipment necessary to effectuate the purposes of § 28-37-31;

(7) To provide funds for loans to the state compensation insurance fund as provided in §§ 27-7.2-19 and 27-7.2-20.1 [repealed];

(8) To provide funds for the payment or reimbursement of actual incremental costs of COLA increases mandated by § 28-33-17 respecting injuries occurring prior to September 1, 1990, in such amounts as the director, in his or her sole discretion, deems appropriate. These amounts may be paid out of the fund by order of the director and shall be made by order drawn on the general treasury to be charged against the fund;

(9) To provide funds to the workers’ compensation advisory council created pursuant to the provisions of § 28-29-30 for expenditures to carry out its responsibilities; and

(10) To provide funds to the department of business regulation relating to the evaluation of rate filings, reviews, and pricing procedures pursuant to the provisions of § 27-9-52.