(a)

In order to promote cost-effective and efficient discovery and information exchange, document service between parties and lien claimants may be effected by CD-ROM, DVD, or other electronic media including e-mail attachments. Production in PDF/A format shall be the preferred form of service. Indexing of documents and Bates-stamping of pages shall also be preferred.

(b)

Nothing in this section shall preclude: (1) the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board or the Administrative Director from adopting any regulation that would permit service or receipt of service to be effected by alternative technologies; or (2) the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board from ordering or allowing an alternative form of service, including service in paper form, in any particular case.

(c)

For purposes of this section, the terms: (1) “serve” and “service” shall include any requirement to produce, allow inspection of, or allow access to any report, record, or other document; and (2) “party” and “lien claimant” shall include any attorney, representative, or agent (including a copy service) of a party or lien claimant.

(e)

This section shall not preclude the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, upon a showing of good cause, from ordering a party or lien claimant to either allow the on-site inspection of its records or to produce those records at hearing.