(a) The commissioner shall establish a workers' compensation specialist program to assist injured or disabled employees, persons claiming death benefits, employers and other persons in protecting their rights and obtaining information available under workers' compensation laws.

(b) A workers' compensation specialist shall meet with or otherwise provide information to or receive information from injured or disabled employees, employers, insurance carriers and health care providers on behalf of injured or disabled employees. The specialist shall conduct informal dispute resolution by holding benefit review conferences throughout the state. The conference shall be held in the county where the employee lives, unless otherwise agreed to between the parties, or otherwise directed by the commissioner.

(c) Any person employed as a specialist by the commissioner is ineligible to further handle cases that require the person's involvement during this employment as a specialist.

(d) A workers' compensation specialist shall examine any proposed settlement reached during the benefit review conference to determine whether the employee is receiving, substantially, the benefits provided by this chapter.

(e) Each employer shall notify the employer's employees of the workers' compensation specialist service in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. At a minimum, the notice shall include the posting of a notice in one (1) or more conspicuous places. The notice shall include a toll-free number for employees to reach a workers' compensation specialist. The commissioner shall also describe clearly the availability of the workers' compensation specialist on the first report of accident form required by this chapter.

(f) Workers' compensation specialists shall conduct benefit review conferences. The commissioner shall institute and maintain an education and training program for workers' compensation specialists, who must be employees of the division. The specialists shall be trained in the principles and procedures of dispute mediation. The commissioner is authorized to consult or enter into contracts with the federal mediation and conciliation service or other appropriate organizations to accomplish this purpose.

(g) In conducting benefit review conferences, the workers' compensation specialist shall:

(1) Mediate disputes between the parties and assist in the adjustment of claims consistent with this chapter and the policies of the commissioner, before and after the benefit review conference;

(2) Thoroughly inform all parties of their rights and responsibilities under this chapter, including the right of any party to be represented by an attorney of the party's choice;

(3) Ensure that all documents and information relating to the employees' wages, medical condition, and any other information pertinent to the resolution of disputed issues are contained in the claim file at the conference, especially in cases in which the employee is not represented by an attorney; and

(4) Determine whether, under any proposed settlement, the employee is receiving, substantially, the benefits provided by this chapter.

(h) A benefit review conference shall be requested at any time within the limitation period or periods provided in §§ 50-6-203 or 50-6-306. A workers' compensation specialist shall have the authority to continue or reschedule a benefit review conference. A workers' compensation specialist shall also have the authority to cancel or waive a benefit review conference, solely within the discretion of that workers' compensation specialist.

(i) For the purpose of conducting discovery, workers' compensation specialists shall have the authority, either on their own or at the request of either party, to refer matters to a specially designated attorney within the department who may issue subpoenas, effect discovery, and issue protective orders in the same manner as an administrative judge or hearing officer pursuant to § 4-5-311.

(j) The workers' compensation specialist may not take testimony but may direct questions to an employee, an employer, or a representative of an insurance carrier to supplement or clarify information in a claim file.

(k) The workers' compensation specialist shall maintain a file concerning these proceedings.

(l) The workers' compensation specialist shall not engage in litigation or determination of workers' compensation claims outside of the workers' compensation specialist's duties as a workers' compensation specialist.

(m) The commissioner shall establish a program of continuing education and training for workers' compensation specialists in order to assure that specialists maintain current and appropriate skills and knowledge in performing their duties. The program of continuing education shall include, at a minimum, seven (7) hours of continuing education each fiscal year. The minimum seven (7) hours of education shall be specifically in the area of Workers' Compensation Law, compiled in this chapter, and shall be in addition to any mediation training provided to the specialists. Three (3) of the seven (7) hours of education shall be approved by the Tennessee commission on continuing legal education and specialization. In addition to the annual seven-hour continuing education requirement, each specialist hired by the department shall be provided, within one (1) month of the date of hire, formal training and education, which shall include training on the department's workers' compensation system, the Tennessee workers' compensation statutes and caselaw, and the rules and regulations of the division of workers' compensation. Documentation reflecting the type of education and training provided pursuant to this subsection (m) shall be maintained by the administrator of the division of workers' compensation. Documentation of each educational program shall include the date of the program, the name of each specialist attending, a description of the educational program including topics covered, the name of the sponsor or provider of the educational program and the number of hours for each educational program.