Flash: California Insurance Company Kicked Out?
A final decision is still pending, but the Judge overseeing California Insurance Company’s conservation gave a big clue as to how she plans to rule. Get the details here.
Flash: Appeals Court Strikes Down Controversial WCAB Practice
A California Court of Appeal says the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board has been violating California law for years. What is the practice that it says must stop?
Flash: Workers’ Comp Regulatory Filing Approved
California’s Insurance Commissioner approved the WCIRB’s technical changes to the workers’ comp classifications and experience rating system effective September 1, 2023. Here are the fundamental changes taking effect.
Flash: Industry Blocks Workers’ Comp Rate Cut
The insurance industry is again asking for a rate increase, although modest. Employers want a significant decrease. How much does each want and what is a possible outcome?
Flash: Bureau Makes September 1 Regulatory Filing
There will be revised workers’ comp rates and new X-Mod factors for California employers effective September 2023. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau filed proposed regulatory changes. The filing also includes a significant revamping of one of the largest classifications in the state. Get the details here.
Flash: SCOTUS Rejects Applied Underwriters’ Appeal In CIC Conservation
What did the U.S. Supreme Court think of Applied Underwriters’ petition for certiorari in the California Insurance Company case? Apparently, not much. Get the details about its ruling here.
Flash: Record High Workers’ Comp Assessments for 2023
California employers will pay a larger surcharge on workers’ comp to run the state’s workers’ comp, occupational safety, and health programs next year. How much more? Click here to find out.
Flash: DOSH: No Non-Emergency COVID Exclusion Pay
California business is ecstatic that there will be no exclusion pay requirement in the new two year extended covid standard being adopted by Cal/OSHA. Adding the labor sponsored provision would have delayed the impending proposal by several months.
Flash: Average Weekly Wage Up Over 5%
The State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) affects how much claims adjusters must pay injured workers on temporary total disability (TTD) and permanent total disability (PTD). How much more will employers be paying?
Flash: Applied / CIC Auditor Resigns – California Tightens Controls
What actions prompted Applied Underwriters’ / California Insurance Company’s independent auditor suddenly quit? What new safeguards has the court-appointed Conservator instituted to protect policyholders? And what inferences can be made about how management is conducting business?
Flash: Workers’ Comp Rate Decision
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara wasted little time in issuing a decision about the Bureau’s filing for workers’ comp rate increase. Here is the decision…
Flash: New Rules for the Bureau’s Regs
The Insurance Commissioner has approved the WCIRB’s technical filing amending certain classes and approving expected loss rates. Click here for the gist of the approval.
Flash: California Extends COVID Rules
Cal/OSHA readopts a slightly slimmed-down version of its controversial COVID regulation. What’s in it? How long will it last? And what happens next? Click here
Flash: Has the Bureau Lost Its Ever Lovin’ Mind?
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s insurer members voted in unison against the public members to again try for an increase in California workers’ comp pure premium rates. How much are they asking for? Get the details here.
Flash: New ETS Language Posted
Here’s how revisions to Cal/OSHA’s COVID emergency regulation look like, ahead of an April 21st vote by the Standards Board.
Flash: Biden Withdraws COVID Vaccine Rule
U S Supreme Court ruling spelled the end of the ETS, but s there more to come?
Flash: Workers’ Comp Assessments Go Sky High
For 2022 California employers will be paying more in workers’ comp surcharges to run the Department of Industrial Relations. How much more? It’s horrifying. Get the details here.
Flash: Fed-OSHA Issues Vaccine Mandate – Employers Get Choice
Federal requirements for employers with at least 100 employees take effect soon. The development raises big questions for California.
Flash: Dramatic Increases in Fed, Cal/OSHA Penalties?
Language in a congressional budget bill would increase Fed-OSHA penalties tenfold for certain violations. Would Cal/OSHA be forced to follow suit?
Flash: Workers’ Comp Rate Decision
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara made quick work in issuing his workers’ comp pure premium rate decision just two weeks after the record closed. How big is the decrease?
Flash: Masks Off for Vaccinated Employees in California
Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board, on its third try, adopts revisions to the controversial COVID emergency standard. And now the governor has weighed in on its effective date.
Flash: Cal/OSHA: To Mask or Not to Mask
Standards Board will vote on new revisions to COVID emergency standard this week.
Flash: Take Three on COVID Revisions
Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted to rescind just-approved changes to the controversial emergency covid standard. Now there will be newer new health guidelines. What’s in them? What happens next to California employers? Click here and find out.
Flash: Standards Board: More New COVID Rules ?
The COVID regulatory saga takes another twist, as Cal/OSHA’s rulemaking body calls a special June 9th meeting to discuss more potential changes to the controversial regulation.
Flash: Will Pure Premium Increase or Decrease?
The clock is ticking for a decision on California’s next set of workers’ comp pure premium rates. What’s on the horizon? Get the story here.
Flash: Standard Board Tables ETS Vote
Anticipated revisions to the COVID emergency temporary standard are on hold while the Division of Occupational Safety and Health makes new changes to reflect current guidelines on masks and vaccinated employees. Click here to see what happens next.
Flash: CDC: No More Masks for Fully Vaccinated
CDC guidance is to open up the economy for the vaccinated. There is science behind the change. The question is will California’s government choose science?
Flash: September 1st: New X-Mods Coming, Classification Changes Approved
Employer X-Mods are being updated and issued shortly for the new September 1 annual filing. When will they be out and what other classification changes are taking place? Get the details here.
Flash: Fed Guidance Relaxes Mask Mandate For Some
There is new guidance out on when and where masks are no longer necessary. What is the latest? Click here.
Flash: California Rate Fight Breaks Out
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau and its insurance carrier majority are pushing through a filing for a rate increase. But an alternate projection says rates should actually come down. How big is the difference in the projections? And what the heck is anyone thinking? Get the details here.
Flash: Officials Halt Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Why are the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration halting use of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine? Here’s what you need to know.
Flash: CDC: Vaccinated May Gather Without Masks
If you are fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control says you can gather with others without masks. Is this a ray of hope for the workplace? And do the Cal/OSHA Emergency Requirements fly in the face of this new thinking?
Flash: California Labor Secretary Joining Biden Administration
Less than two years after becoming California’s secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Julie Su is moving on to the number two spot at the US Department of Labor.
Flash: Lawsuit Seeks to Overturn COVID Standard
New lawsuit alleges underground regulation and “ruinous consequences” for agricultural employers from emergency temporary standard. Will this be the one to kill the emergency standard?
Flash: Lawsuit filed to Nullify Cal/OSHA Emergency COVID Rule
Seeking an injunction, employers filed a lawsuit saying the new Cal/OSHA emergency standard was promulgated illegally and that it could be “ruinous” to California employers. It comes at the same time as the COVID vaccines are being distributed. Read about it here.
Flash: 2021 Rates Are Out: Lara Rejects COVID-19 Surcharge
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is going against the insurance industry in his 2021 pure premium rate decision. It is a victory for employers. What actions is he taking and how will it affect the rates you pay next year? Get the story here.
Flash: Cal/OSHA Rushes Thru Emergency COVID Regs
The Standards Board will vote soon on this extensive set of rules. Here is the proposed regulation and how you can weigh in – but you’d better do it quickly because the vote is just about here.
Flash: 🚨 Read it Yourself – What Does CDI Say About Applied Underwriters’/ CIC
After some consideration in our newsroom we made the decision to provide CDI’s summary – the points and authorities – directly to you– without filters or interpretation – so you can decide what to make of it. Get the details by clicking here.
Flash: 🚨 APPLIED UNDERWRITERS’ / CIC KICKED OUT
The California Department of Insurance filed a plan for taking out Applied Underwriters’ California Insurance Company. It is devastating to management and may have implications for affiliates. Get the first of many of the details by clicking here.
Flash: Pressure Builds to Eliminate COVID-19 Surcharge From 2021 Rates
The industry presented its case for a 2021 rate increase, but Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara also heard why a decrease should also be considered. How big of a rate cut is possible? Get the details here.