A legislative proposal to allow compromise and release (C&R) settlements to be signed with an electronic signature seems like a simple enough change to improve workers’ comp system efficiency, but it is raising concerns. The concern is the change could make it easier for criminals to commit workers’ comp fraud. The bill, AB 2337 by …
California legislators are setting the stage for the second half of the legislative session by introducing bills to create a single-payer health care system, expand 4850 leave for public safety officers, create a presumption for farmworkers and expand workers’ comp medical benefits for injured workers who have to travel for treatment. Legislators also introduced bills …
Members of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard that California has a dismal record of enforcing workplace safety, wage and hour, and anti-retaliation laws in the agricultural sector, including failing to prevent retaliation against farmworkers for filing workers’ comp claims. Committee chair Liz Ortega (D-Hayward) held a special hearing on the issue and promised …
Assemblyman Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita) is carrying legislation designed to end California’s use of the ABC test to differentiate between independent contractors and employees. The legislator introduced AB 1928 “to suspend and nullify the California Supreme Court’s decision in Dynamex Operations and provide that this decision does not apply for purposes of California law.” …
Proposals to expand California’s workers’ comp presumptions to more workers fell under Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto, but he signed another measure to continue an existing post-traumatic stress disorder presumption. The successful bill, SB 623 by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), also calls for the Commission on Health, Safety and Workers’ Compensation to study the presumption …
Governor Gavin Newsom put pen to paper and approved several bills impacting the California workers’ comp system next year and beyond. The measures include new reporting requirements for employers in the construction classifications and another increasing death benefits for some public safety officers. Newsom also approved AB 336 by Assemblyman Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) to require …
A half-dozen bills addressing workers’ comp presumptions for public sector employees, temporary disability benefits, and certain death benefits were enrolled in the legislative session’s final days. They are now awaiting action by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The Governor has until October 14th to sign or veto the measures. Enrolled earlier and still awaiting action is …
The California Legislature still has a day of work left this year, but legislators already sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill to require contractors to report the workers’ compensation classifications on their workers’ comp policies to the Contractors State Licensing Board. If enacted, the bill would require the CSLB to publish on its website the …