Washington Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals

Key discussion points included an update regarding the IAIABC presentation scheduled for September, requiring further discussion with the Chief Industrial Appeals Judge. Approval was granted for hiring exceptions to fill Industrial Appeals Judge 3 (IAJ3) positions that are becoming vacant due to promotions and departures. Management updates covered the completion of the run-change survey, which resulted in adjustments to judge assignments, the status of the Olympia downsizing project, and legislative updates. Public comment raised concerns regarding consistency in training materials, the scope of the run-change survey distribution, notification of role changes, and performance issues within the BAMS system. The Board also discussed Chief Administrative Officer expectations.

Key discussion points included the importance of ongoing recognition efforts, which was assigned to the July 14, 2026 Board Meeting for follow-up. The committee reviewed the agenda for the Stakeholder Meeting. Approval was given for the Diversity Committee to host a Juneteenth potluck, with the stipulation that travel expenses would not be reimbursed per the Governor's directive. Management updates covered LA2 and LA3 recruitments, regional meetings, BAMS 201 training, and an impending departure. Discussions also addressed proposed legislation concerning the reclassification of OAH judges and the established protocol regarding voluntary dismissal orders, specifically noting that listing the mover's name is optional. Public comments raised concerns regarding clarity on Stakeholder Meeting agenda items, the possibility of integrating diversity requirements with the Juneteenth event, appreciation for legislative workarounds, and significant frustration among judges regarding communication failures related to scheduling conferences and contact information.

Key discussions during the meeting included management updates regarding fiscal notes, the start date for Wendi Gunther, and the deployment of laptops to administrative staff. Updates were also provided concerning a hearing run change, kudos for communication during that change, and the transition away from the BAMS project manager. The Chief Legal Officer reported on fiscal notes and a recent RFP. A public comment was made regarding the appointment of counsel and potential rulemaking considerations. The meeting concluded with welcoming two new Industrial Appeals Judges (IAJ4s).

Key discussions included clarifying an agenda item to focus on Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) interviews and results, and adding CAO Salary discussions. Approved actions included filling an additional scheduler position and allowing scheduler positions to be filled following internal promotions or lateral transfers. A discussion took place regarding recording the Board Continuing Legal Education (CLE), which was deferred to a future meeting. Candidate selection for the CAO position was made, pending final approval from the Governor's office. Management updates covered LA2 recruitment, bargaining demands, a run change, retirements, PFR assignments, and BAMS training schedules. Public comments addressed position filling, BAMS slowness, support for recording the CLE, concerns from judges regarding DocuSign and templates prioritization, and questions about laptop deployment and resource constraints in New Appeals regarding automation requests. The board unanimously approved the CAO salary range during the Executive Session.

The meeting convened briefly with an Executive Session held for the purpose of conducting interviews for the Chief Administrative Officer position. No formal actions were taken during the Executive Session. Following the Executive Session, there was no public comment, and the meeting was adjourned.