The author of a bill to reform California’s Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) program amended the measure before its first legislative hearing to tighten the definition of a pre-existing disability. The proposed changes are projected to reduce the number of 100% permanent total disability and cut the annual assessment by 20 to 25%. Employers …
A bill to create the first private sector workers’ comp presumption for heat-related illnesses suffered by farmworkers cleared its first hurdle despite opposition from the employer community. AB 1336, by Assemblyman Dawn Addis (D-San Luis Obispo), is a redo of a bill that reached Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk last year but was vetoed for being …
The Assembly Insurance Committee approved two high-profile measures: one to reform the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund and the other to create a farmworker presumption for heat illnesses (see related items on pages 1 and 4). It advanced several other bills impacting California’s workers’ comp system. The Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee advanced …
The Assembly Insurance and the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement committees held their first hearings to review bills this session and advanced measures to expand a workers’ comp cancer presumption and extend 4850 time to more public sector employees. Also advancing was a measure to reform broker licensing requirements and a rehash of a …
The Assembly Insurance Committee passed AB 1209 by Assemblyman Michelle Rodriguez (D-Ontario) over the opposition of two members. The bill proposes an amnesty program for the state’s legal cannabis industry and a system for providing access to financial and insurance markets for these employers to comply. Testimony during the hearing described the industry as a …
Assemblyman Liz Ortega (D-Hayward) introduced amendments to AB 1329 requiring substantial medical evidence before awards are made under the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund. The bill also calls on the Department of Industrial Relations director to develop a list of approved qualified medical evaluators (QMEs) “who have the necessary training and expertise” to provide evaluations …
Legislators are beginning to add more specifics to spot bills as the legislative session gets underway in earnest. One bill now includes a broad notification provision that employers will have to comply with if it becomes law, while another amended bill carves out a class of workers who would be exempt from California’s ABC test. …
Bill hearing season is underway in the state capitol. The Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee will begin reviewing bills this morning, including measures to expand 4850 leave, expand workers’ comp presumptions, and continue certain death benefits for a longer period. The Assembly Insurance Committee set a hearing for next week. The agenda is …