Arnold’s On Board For Work Comp Reform
By Robert Warne - November 17, 2003Action, action, action is what Californians expect out of Arnold Schwarzenegger. So after he was sworn into office today as California’s 38th Governor, to make good on his promise he took the necessary steps to enable the legislature to start dealing with workers’ compensation reform tomorrow.
Although the meetings can begin in the morning, the initial conversation starter for the anticipated ulcer piercing session will most likely not be about permanent and temporary disability, clarification of “treat and relieve” and excessive lawyering reforms.
Plus there are some distractions this week with 38 legislators preparing for a rest and relaxation session in Hawaii to hang out with the prison guards’ union.
But according to Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, this is an ideal time for legislators to begin working on the essential clean-up legislation to deal with technical inaccuracies contained in SB 228 and AB 227.
The commissioner anticipates that such legislation will be at the most, mildly controversial and thinks it could pass with a 2/3 vote as an urgency measure sometime in November or December.
The commissioner admits that when the legislature begins to deal with permanent disability that, “it’s certainly going to be a controversial, yet necessary part of the reform.”
Based on his estimates, the commissioner hopes that all the changes can be made before Mar. 31, so he can make the appropriate pure premium rate recommendation for July and that businesses won’t have to wait another year for further relief.
According to the Associated Press, Charles Bacchi, a lobbyist for the California Chamber of Commerce said, "Nothing's impossible, but there are a lot of roadblocks."
Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, who is expected to be a wild card in the deck of negotiations had threatened the new governor in a letter that he would scrap the recent reforms and allow him to start with a clean slate.
But Garamendi said he had spoken to Burton about the comment and is confident that SB 228 and AB 227 will not be repealed.
So in the end, whatever transpires over the next few months is definitely shaping up to be a rare historical moment in California. | 
__May11th2017.gif)
.gif)