Chapter 2.5. Administrative Assistance of California Labor Code >> Division 4. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 2.5.

The Division of Workers' Compensation shall make available to employees, employers and other interested parties information, assistance, and advice to assure the proper and timely furnishing of benefits and to assist in the resolution of disputes on an informal basis.

Any party may consult with, or seek the advice of, an information and assistance officer within the Division of Workers' Compensation as designated by the administrative director. If no application is filed, if the employee is not represented, or upon agreement of the parties, the information and assistance officer shall consider the contentions of the parties and may refer the matter to the appropriate bureau or unit within the Division of Workers' Compensation for review and recommendations. The information and assistance officer shall advise the employer and the employee of their rights, benefits, and obligations under this division. Upon making a referral, the information and assistance officer shall arrange for a copy of any pertinent material submitted to be served upon the parties or their representatives, if any. The procedures to be followed by the information and assistance officer shall be governed by the rules and regulations of the administrative director adopted after public hearings.

After consideration of the information submitted, including the reports of any bureau or unit within the Division of Workers' Compensation which have been received, the information and assistance officer shall make a recommendation which shall be served on the parties or their representatives, if any.

Submission of any matter to an information and assistance officer of the Division of Workers' Compensation shall toll any applicable statute of limitations for the period that the matter is under consideration by the information and assistance officer, and for 60 days following the issuance of his or her recommendation.

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any party from filing an application for benefits under this division. In any proceeding pursuant to such application, the admissibility of written evidence or reports submitted by any party pursuant to this chapter, or Section 5502, shall be governed by Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 5700).