1. (a) Upon the request of any party to a workers compensation claim and the acceptance of the other party, the director of workers compensation shall schedule the parties for a mediation conference. The purpose of the mediation shall be to assist the parties in reaching agreement on any disputed issues in a workers compensation claim. If the director is advised that one party does not wish to participate in the mediation, the director is authorized to encourage that party to participate.
2. (b) Mediation conferences shall be conducted by mediators appointed by the director. Such mediators shall be qualified as mediators pursuant to the dispute resolution act, K.S.A. 5-501 et seq., and amendments thereto, and any relevant rules of the Kansas supreme court as authorized pursuant to K.S.A. 5-510, and amendments thereto.
3. (c) Persons with final settlement authority for each party shall be present, in person or by video conference, at the mediation conference.
4. (d) All mediation conferences shall be conducted by a mediator in accordance with the dispute resolution act, K.S.A. 5-501, and amendments thereto.
5. (e) The director shall widely disseminate information about the mediation conference procedure.

L. 1996, ch. 79, § 15; L. 1998, ch. 114, § 6; July 1.