The California Chamber of Commerce identified the first “job killer” bill of the year. SB 626 (Beall; D-San Jose) severely undercuts the recent workers’ compensation reform deal agreed to by labor unions and employers.

The bill proposes dramatic cost increases for California employers and would leave them worse off than before the reforms of last year were enacted. 

SB 626 eliminates the entire balance of the deal and would erase hundreds of millions of dollars in projected savings. Specifically, SB 626 would roll back reforms dealing with timely, high-quality medical treatment and a more predictable, and less litigious, permanent disability system.

HR Informant will continue to add legislation to the “job killer” list throughout the year as bills are amended or new language is introduced.

For the complete story, please visit this CalChamber Top Story. For more information on past job killers, please visit CalChamber’s Job Killers page.

This year, California’s Legislature passed Senate Bill 863, containing wide-ranging workers’ compensation reform measures. SB 863 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2013. 

Some of its provisions will be effective immediately, requiring changes to notices that explain employee rights and employer obligations. California employers must post a notice explaining employee rights and employer obligations under the state workers’ compensation system and must provide all employees with a workers’ compensation pamphlet at the time of hire.

CalChamber worked with the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) to obtain approved language for the required workers’ compensation notice and pamphlet. CalChamber’s 2013 California and Federal Employment Notices Poster and Workers’ Compensation pamphlet both contain language required by law for January 1, 2013, and approved by the DWC. The 2013 California and Federal Employment Notices Postercontains the 16 state and federal employment notices every California employer must post. 

Although some of the bill’s measures will take effect January 1, other provisions require administrative/regulatory action prior to implementation.