2019 Georgia Code
Title 34 - Labor and Industrial Relations
Appendix: Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Workers' Compensation
§ 385. Participant Filing for Relief Under the Federal Bankruptcy Act
(a) Within 30 days of the occurrence of filing for relief under the Federal Bankruptcy Act or against whom bankruptcy proceedings are filed or for whom a receiver is appointed, the participant shall file a written notice with the Board and the Board of trustees.
(b) Any individual who files an application for adjustment of a claim against a participant who is or becomes an insolvent self-insurer shall file a written notice of such participant's status with the Board and the Board of trustees within 30 days of such individual having knowledge of the participant becoming an insolvent insurer.
(c) Upon receipt of any notice as provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this Code Section, the Board shall determine whether the participant is an insolvent self-insurer. The Board of trustees shall refer for investigation all facts, circumstances, and information in its possession to a properly designated authorized certified public accountant for determination of the question of insolvency according to generally accepted accounting principles. Upon receipt of the notice referenced herein, a participant shall be required to execute a release of any and all financial information, banking records, books of account, tax returns or other records determined by the Board of trustees to be necessary in making a determination of insolvency and the participant shall assist in the production of said information when requested to do so by the Board of trustees.
(d) When a participant is determined to be an insolvent self-insurer, the Board of trustees is empowered and shall assume on behalf of the participant the following:
(1) Outstanding workers' compensation obligations excluding penalties, fines and claimant's attorney fees assessed pursuant to Section 34-9-108(b).
(2) Responsibility for taking necessary steps to collect, recover, and enforce all outstanding security, indemnity, insurance, or bonds for the purpose of paying outstanding and continuing obligations of participants.
(3) Refunding any funds remaining from such security to the appropriate party one year from the date of final payment, provided no liabilities remain against the Fund and all applicable statutes of limitation have run.
(e) The fund shall be a party in interest in all proceedings in the payment of workers' compensation claims for a participant and shall be subrogated to the rights of the participant. The Fund may exercise all rights and defenses of the participant including:
(1) Appear, defend and appeal claims.
(2) Receive notice of, investigate, adjust, compromise, settle and pay claims.
(3) Investigate, handle and controvert claims.
(f) Should payment of benefits be stayed in bankruptcy court, the Board of trustees or a designated representative shall appear in the bankruptcy court and move to lift the stay.
(g) The Board of trustees shall notify all employees with pending claims of the name, address and telephone number of the party administering and defending against their claim.
(h) The Board has the discretion to direct the Fund to pay, in whole or in part, the contractual fee arrangement between an attorney and a claimant pursuant to Section 34-9-108(a). The attorney must apply to the Board and provide notice to the employee with a pending claim. Any party may make an objection to the application and all objections will be considered by the Board.
(i) This code section shall not impair any claims, to the extent those claims are unpaid, in the insolvent self-insurer's bankruptcy by the board of trustees, any employees, or any provider of services related to the insolvent self-insurer's workers' compensation obligations, to the extent those claims remain unpaid. Provider of services includes, but is not limited to, medical providers or the attorneys representing the insolvent self-insurer or the claimant, if the services provided are related to the insolvent self-insurer's workers' compensation obligations.
