HB 237 WORKERS' COMPENSATION AMENDMENTS  SENATOR KELLY announced HB 237 to be up for consideration. TIM SULLIVAN, Staff to Representative Eldon Mulder, said HB 237 was introduced at the request of Alaska Labor Management Ad Hoc Committee on Worker's Compensation, a committee formed from several members from both labor and management. He gave a brief sectional analysis. PAUL GROSSI, Department of Labor, said they support the bill although there is a technical problem with section 5 which his amendment will address. Section 5 originally was for the release of information from medical and rehab providers to obtain information to be submitted into a file. The amendment on the floor makes it unclear about whether they have right to the information contained in their own file. The other problem is that they can't conduct public hearings and can't issue decisions without that information. SENATOR KELLY said it was the intention of section 5 to not allow public release to this type of medical information. He was concerned that it didn't allow release to the Division of Worker's Compensation. MR. GROSSI said that was right. SHERMAN ERNOUF, Legislative Aide to Senator Kelly, noted that change was embodied in the proposed CS to HB 237. WILLY VON HEMERT, Management Representative of the Ad Hoc Committee, supported HB 237 and the two amendments regarding confidentiality of records and the language dealing with seasonal and temporary workers. KEVIN DOUGHERTY, Ad Hoc Committee, said they fully support the bill as a combined labor management body along with the amendments. Number 320 SENATOR TORGERSON moved to adopt CS marked K to HB 237. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR TORGERSON moved to pass SCS HB 237(L&C) from committee with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.