2002 Signature 2002 Veto 2002 No Action 2001 Veto 2001 No Action 2000 Signature 2000 Veto 2000 No Action 1999 Signature 1999 Veto 1998 Signature 1998 Veto 1998 No Action 1997 Signature 1997 Veto 1996 Signature 1996 Veto 1995 Signature 1995 Veto 1995 No Action		July 3, 1995 TO THE HONORABLE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: In accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 43-1-4, I am transmitting herewith, with my disapproval, 95-H-5268, Substitute A, "An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government Ñ Administrative Procedures." This legislation attempts to make the general procedural provisions of the workers' compensation system subject to the Administrative Procedures Act (the "APA"), R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1 et seq. In 1991, the Workers' Compensation Commission, an administrative agency, was transformed into the Workers' Compensation Court, a part of the unified judicial system. By virtue of this change, the Workers' Compensation Court was no longer subject to the APA, which by its specific terms has no application to the courts. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-1. Since the APA does not appear to apply to the provisions of the workers' compensation system since (because these provisions are now judicial in nature), the bill's deletion of the exemption for such provisions from the APA would appear to be a nullity - Since it would be improper in any event to apply the APA to court procedures of the workers' compensation system, out of an abundance of caution, I am vetoing this legislation. For the foregoing reasons, I disapprove of this legislation and respectfully urge your support of this veto. Sincerely, Lincoln Almond Governor