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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82738</law_id><section_number>65.2-201</section_number><catch_line>General duties and powers of the Commission</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-4006</reference><reference>2.2-4024</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="65.2">Workers' Compensation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be the duty of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to administer this title and <span class="dictionary">adjudicate</span> <span class="dictionary">issues</span> and controversies relating thereto. In all matters within the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, it shall have the power of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record to administer <span class="dictionary">oath</span>, to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, to punish for <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>, to appoint guardians pursuant to Part C (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Natural guardians" href="/64.2-1700/">64.2-1700</a> et seq.) of Subtitle IV of Title 64.2, and to enforce compliance with its lawful <span class="dictionary">orders</span> and <span class="dictionary">awards</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall make rules and regulations for carrying out the provisions of this title. <a id="paragraph-296402" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-201/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may appoint deputies, <span class="dictionary">bailiffs</span>, and such other personnel as it may deem necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this title. <a id="paragraph-296403" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-201/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or any member thereof or any person deputized by it may for the purposes of this title <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> witnesses, administer or cause to be administered <span class="dictionary">oaths</span>, and examine or cause to be examined such parts of the books and records of the parties to a proceeding as relate to questions in dispute arising in instances in which the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> has power to <span class="dictionary">award</span> compensation. This authority shall extend to requests from like agencies of other states who honor similar requests from the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. <a id="paragraph-296404" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-201/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall publish and, upon request, furnish free of charge, such blank forms and literature as it shall deem requisite to facilitate or promote the efficient administration of this title. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall publish a workers&#x2019; compensation guide for employees which informs an injured employee of his rights under this title. If the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> receives notice of an accident, it shall provide a workers&#x2019; compensation guide to the employee. <a id="paragraph-296405" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-201/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A majority of the commissioners, including any deputy commissioner appointed or retired commissioner recalled pursuant to subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Review of award; rehearing" href="/65.2-705/">65.2-705</a>, shall constitute a quorum for the exercise of judicial, legislative, and discretionary functions of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, whether there is a vacancy in the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or not, but a quorum shall not be necessary for the exercise of its administrative functions. <a id="paragraph-296406" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-201/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall tabulate the accident reports received from <span class="dictionary">employers</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Records and reports of accidents" href="/65.2-900/">65.2-900</a> and shall publish the same in the annual report of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> and as often as it may deem advisable, in such detailed or aggregate form as it may deem best. The name of the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> or employee shall not appear in such publications, and the <span class="dictionary">employers</span>&#x2019; reports shall be private records of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> and shall not be open for public inspection except for the inspection by the parties directly involved, and only to the extent of such interest. These reports shall not be used as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> against any <span class="dictionary">employer</span> in any suit at <span class="dictionary">law</span> brought by any employee for the recovery of <span class="dictionary">damages</span>. <a id="paragraph-296407" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-201/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 65-10, 65-14, 65-16, 65-19; 1952, c. 14; 1962, c. 339; 1968, c. 660, &#xA7;&#xA7; 65.1-11, 65.1-18, 65.1-22; 1983, c. 102; 1991, c. 355; 2004, c. 178; 2012, c. 588; 2018, c. 250.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
