30 U.S.C. § 925 — Procedure for the determination of claims during transition period

(a) Claims during the transition period. Regardless of another provision in this subchapter, this section applies to claims for benefits under this part filed from July 1, 1973, through December 31, 1973. Its purpose is to ensure that claimants continue receiving benefits when administration shifts to a State workers’ compensation agency or the Secretary of Labor.

For each such claim:
(1) The Secretary of Labor must decide the claim. When this part or section 9501(d) of title 26 allows it, the Secretary must pay benefits for the claim.
(2) The Secretary of Labor must promptly notify any operator whom the Secretary believes, based on information in the claim or other available information, may have to pay the claimant benefits under part C for a month after December 31, 1973.
(3) In deciding the claim, the Secretary must follow, as appropriate, the procedures in section 919(b), (c), and (d) of title 33.
(4) An operator notified that a claim is pending under paragraph (2) is bound by the Secretary of Labor's decision as if the claim had been filed under part C and section 932 of this title applied to that operator. But the operator is not required under this paragraph to pay benefits for a month before January 1, 1974.

(b) Regulations. The Secretary of Labor may issue regulations necessary or appropriate to carry out this section. This section does not define “operator” or “claimant.”