Bill to redefine WSI relationships

The Legislature is likely to address up to 40 bills dealing with Workforce Safety and Insurance this session, especially after voters approved a measure last fall to give the governor the power to appoint WSI's director, Rep. George Keiser, R-Bismarck, said Wednesday.

"It's imperative that we get a bill that takes our current existing Century Code dealing with Workforce Safety and Insurance and make sure that we change all of the sections so that it fits with what the people voted for," said Keiser, chairman of the Industry, Business and Labor committee.

Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Dickinson, said she will introduce legislation sometime next week that will redefine the relationship between the WSI board of directors and the governor's office, as well as how the board is selected.

"It will take what's currently law and make it fit with Measure 4 that passed," Johnson said, adding that, in light of the dozens of bills expected to address WSI this session, it will be a challenge for lawmakers to avoid passing conflicting bills.

Keiser said the bill being drafted by the governor's office will convert the WSI board from a policy-making role into an advisory body to the executive.

- Brian Duggan