Workers’ Comp Executive launches each new year with the publication of a list of the “Top Stories” from the prior 12 months. Some years are more newsworthy than others, but we certainly had some doozies during what was our 30th year covering the California workers’ comp industry. Beset by the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Newsom followed …
The bill signing season is well underway. Governor Gavin Newsom put pen to paper on many bills, including measures increasing the number of exemptions to the Dynamex ABC test and a bill requiring employers to report workplace cases of COVID-19 to local and state public health officials. In addition to these measures, brokers should take …
The Governor signed SB 1159, creating the rebuttable presumption that cases of COVID-19 are work-related. The law requires certain conditions to be met — including the obvious requirement that an employee test positive for the virus. The bill codifies the governor’s earlier executive order creating a presumption for essential workers. The bill also expands it …
The Legislature’s plan to codify and expand Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order creating a rebuttable presumption that COVID-19 cases are work-related, has passed the Legislature. It is heading to Governor Newsom’s desk. SB 1159 by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) cleared both houses in the final hours. The bill is an urgency measure and …
There are three pending creating a workers’ comp presumption concerning COVID-19 being automatically work-related for certain employees. The bills are newly amended and awaiting review by both Houses. However, work in the Senate is strange because Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) tested positive for the virus, which originated in Wuhan China. Yesterday’s Senate floor session was …
Three bills proposing to create presumptions that cases of COVID-19 are a compensable consequence of work cleared key policy committees. However, there are still major, unresolved issues, such as the presumption’s scope and duration. One of the bills, AB 196 by Assemblyman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), initially sought a conclusive presumption of compensability, but it …
California workers have filed 22,621 claims for workers’ comp benefits due to COVID-19. The data – covering claims through the third week of July – shows nearly a quarter of them denied. Applicants must test positive for the disease to have a valid claim. The claims data from the California Workers’ Compensation Information System released …
The California Legislature returns next week after an extended summer recess due to an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among legislators and staff. Awaiting action are a number of bills affecting the workers’ comp system, including a key measure to create a presumption of compensability for COVID-19 claims filed by public and private sector employees alike. …