Sec. 2. 39-A MRSA §401, sub-§5-A is enacted to read:

5-A.__Working group on data collection and injury prevention.__The Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards shall convene a working group beginning not later than October 1, 2003 to evaluate data on work- related injuries and identify ways to reduce the incidence of such injuries.__The bureau shall include in the group representatives of the board, labor, employers, occupational health practitioners, safety experts, insurers and others that the bureau considers useful and necessary to the group. The group shall review existing data collection efforts and the structure within State Government for evaluating and improving injury prevention efforts in the workplace.__The group shall identify ways to improve data collection, analysis and injury prevention programs in the State.__The bureau shall report the recommendations of the group by January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2006 to the Governor and to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters and over insurance matters.__Those committees are authorized to report out legislation in response to the recommendations to the First Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature and the Second Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature.__The__bureau may continue the group as long as it considers such a group useful in understanding the causes and promoting prevention of work-related injuries in the State.