Workers' Comp Vote
There could be hope on the horizon for California employers who have been struggling with runaway workers’ compensation insurance costs. A bill created to overhaul workers’ comp was passed out by legislative committee on April 14. At press time, the bill was scheduled for vote by the Senate and Assembly on April 16. If passed, the bill would proceed to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law. In its current form, the bill is expected to cut $4 billion to $7 billion out of the $22 billion workers’ comp system. But business groups have complained that the bill does not provide enough relief for employers who have seen workers’ comp rates more than double in recent years. And labor groups are unhappy with legislators’ decision not to mandate a cap on insurance premiums.
