(a) The Legislature finds that a deficit exists in the Workers' Compensation Fund of such critical proportions that it constitutes an imminent threat to the immediate and long-term solvency of the fund and constitutes a substantial deterrent to the economic development of this state. The Legislature further finds that addressing the workers' compensation crisis requires the efforts of all persons and entities involved and resolution of the crisis is in the best interest of the public. Modification to the rate system, alteration of the benefit structure, improvement of current management practices and changes in perception must be merged into a unified effort to make the workers' compensation system viable and solvent through the mutualization of the system and the opening of the market to private workers' compensation insurance carriers. It was and remains the intent of the Legislature that the amendments to this chapter enacted in the year 2003 be applied from the date upon which the enactment was made effective by the Legislature. The Legislature finds that an emergency exists as a result of the combined effect of this deficit, other state budgetary deficits and liabilities and other grave social and economic circumstances currently confronting the state and that unless the changes provided by the enactment of the amendments to this chapter, as well as other legislation designed to address the problem are made effective immediately, the fiscal stability of this state will suffer irreparable harm. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that the need of the citizens of this state for the protection of the state Treasury and the solvency of the Workers' Compensation Funds requires the limitations on any expectations that may have arisen from prior enactments of this chapter.

(b) It is the further intent of the Legislature that this chapter be interpreted so as to assure the quick and efficient delivery of indemnity and medical benefits to injured workers at a reasonable cost to the employers who are subject to the provisions of this chapter. It is the specific intent of the Legislature that workers' compensation cases shall be decided on their merits and that a rule of "liberal construction" based on any "remedial" basis of workers' compensation legislation shall not affect the weighing of evidence in resolving such cases. The workers' compensation system in this state is based on a mutual renunciation of common law rights and defenses by employers and employees alike. Employees' rights to sue for damages over and above medical and health care benefits and wage loss benefits are to a certain degree limited by the provisions of this chapter and employers' rights to raise common law defenses, such as lack of negligence, contributory negligence on the part of the employee, and others, are curtailed as well. Accordingly, the Legislature hereby declares that any remedial component of the workers' compensation laws is not to cause the workers' compensation laws to receive liberal construction that alters in any way the proper weighing of evidence as required by section one-g, article four of this chapter.

(c) The "Workers' Compensation Division of the Bureau of Employment Programs" is, on or after October 1, 2003, reestablished, reconstituted and continued as the Workers' Compensation Commission, an agency of the state. The purpose of the commission is to ensure the fair, efficient and financially stable administration of the workers' compensation system of the State of West Virginia. The powers and duties heretofore imposed upon the Workers' Compensation Division and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Employment Programs as they relate to workers' compensation are hereby transferred to and imposed upon the Workers' Compensation Commission and its executive director in the manner prescribed by this chapter.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the transfer of the administration of the workers' compensation system of this state from the Workers' Compensation Division under the Commissioner of the Bureau of Employment Programs to the Workers' Compensation Commission under its executive director and the workers' compensation board of managers is to become effective October 1, 2003. Any provisions of the enactment of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 2013 in the year 2003 relating to the transfer of the administration of the workers' compensation system of this state that conflict with the intent of the Legislature as described in this subsection shall, to that extent, become operative on October 1, 2003, and until that date, prior enactments of this code in effect on the effective date of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 2013 relating to the administration of the workers' compensation system of this state, whether amended and reenacted or repealed by the passage of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 2013, have full force and effect. All provisions of the enactment of Enrolled Senate Bill No. 2013 in the year 2003 relating to matters other than the transfer of the administration of the workers' compensation system of this state shall become operative on the effective date of that enactment, unless otherwise specifically provided in that enactment.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature, expressed through its enactment of legislation, to transfer the regulation of the workers' compensation system to the Insurance Commissioner. By proclamation of the Governor, as authorized by article two-c of this chapter, the Workers' Compensation Commission was terminated on December 31, 2005. To further the transition from the state-operated workers' compensation system to a system of private insurance, the duties and responsibilities of the Workers' Compensation Commission and the board of managers, including, but not limited to, ratemaking and adjudication of claims now reside with the Insurance Commissioner.