Senate Approves ALJ Selection Process Opposed by Labor

By Bill Kidd, Central Bureau ChiefThe Kansas state Senate on Thursday approved legislation to give business groups the majority of seats on a panel that nominates workers’ compensation administrative law judges.Senate Bill 187, introduced and sponsored by the Senate Committee on Commerce, was passed on a 31-9 vote and was sent to the House of Representatives.Under the current system, in effect since 1993, when vacancies on the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board occur, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Kansas AFL-CIO meet and send a nominee to the secretary of labor. SB 187, backe...