BILL NUMBER: AB 1168	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 1, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Pan

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to add Section 5307.7 to the Labor Code, relating to
workers' compensation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1168, as amended, Pan. Workers' compensation: vocational expert
fee schedule.
   Existing law establishes a workers' compensation system,
administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of
Workers' Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries
sustained in the course of his or her employment. Existing law
requires the administrative director, after public hearings, to adopt
and revise periodically official fee schedules that establish
reasonable maximum fees paid for, among other things, medical
services, medicines, and medical supplies. Existing law authorizes
the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board to determine and allow
certain expenses as liens against any award of compensation.
   This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2013, the
administrative director to adopt, after public hearings, a fee
schedule that establishes reasonable  maximum  
hourly  fees paid for services provided by vocational experts.
This bill would prohibit a vocational expert from being paid, and
prohibit the appeals board from allowing, vocational expert fees in
excess of those  established in the fee schedule 
 that are reasonable, actual, and necessary  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 5307.7 is added to the Labor Code, to read:
   5307.7.  (a) On or before January 1, 2013, the administrative
director shall adopt, after public hearings, a fee schedule that
shall establish reasonable  maximum   hourly
 fees paid for services provided by vocational experts,
including, but not limited to, vocational evaluations and expert
testimony determined  to be admissible by   to
be reasonable, actual, and necessary  the appeals board.
   (b) A vocational expert shall not be paid, and the appeals board
shall not allow, vocational expert fees in excess of those 
set forth in the fee schedule adopted pursuant to this section.
  that are reasonable, actual, and necessary.