(A) All rules governing the operating procedure of the bureau of workers’ compensation and the industrial commission shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, except that determinations of the bureau, district hearing officers, staff hearing officers, and the commission, with respect to an individual employee’s claim to participate in the state insurance fund are governed only by Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code.
The administrator of workers’ compensation and commission shall proceed jointly, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, including a joint hearing, to adopt joint rules governing the operating procedures of the bureau and commission. The bureau shall publish the joint rules in a single publication.
(B) Upon submission to the bureau or the commission of a petition containing not less than fifteen hundred signatures of adult residents of the state, any individual may propose a rule for adoption, amendment, or rescission by the bureau or the commission. If, upon investigation, the bureau or commission is satisfied that the signatures upon the petition are valid, it shall proceed, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, to consider adoption, amendment, or rescission of the rule.
(C) The administrator shall publish all rules adopted by the bureau and the commission in a single publication and shall make available in a timely manner and at cost copies of all rules adopted by the bureau and the commission that are currently in force. For that purpose, the administrator shall maintain a mailing list of all persons requesting copies of the rules.
(D) The rule-making authority granted to the administrator under this section does not limit the commission’s rule-making authority relative to its overall adjudicatory policy-making and management duties under this chapter and Chapters 4123., 4127., and 4131. of the Revised Code. The administrator shall not disregard any rule adopted by the commission, provided that the rule is within the commission’s rule-making authority.
Effective Date: 10-20-1993