SB-Cal Successes

Last week was a good week for Small Business California. At a Workers Compensation Forum in Monterey John Duncan the head of the Department of Industrial Relations announced the implementation of SB 869. This bill as you may recall had EDD send to the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Board [WCIRB]names of businesses to see if they have workers compensation coverage. The underground economy is a big issue for small businesses as you well know and this will begin to level the playing field. Mr. Duncan indicated that the first 500 names were sent to the WCIRB last week and applauded Small Business California for putting forth this bill.

Small Business California owes a big debt of gratitude to Christine Baker and Lach Taylor from the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation and to Lori Kammerer our lobbyist in Sacramento.

Secondly our bill AB2181 Ruskin was passed on consent calendar in the Assembly. This bill requires insurers to provide information to businesses upon there first lost time workers compensation claim about possible lawsuits that could arise from 132a claims[wrongful termination] and Fair Employment and Housing[ FEHA] claims for not following the interactive process.

Lastly I made a presentation at the Workers Compensation forum in Monterey on Thursday representing small business and the impact of the workers compensation reforms and our vision of what is going to be the future of workers compensation for small businesses in California.

One final note for those of you that may not have heard the WCIRB has recommended no increase in workers compensation rates in July.

Scott Hauge
President, Small Business California.