BILL NUMBER: AB 1168	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  555
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 7, 2011
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 7, 2011
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 18, 2011
	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, 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 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 that are
reasonable, actual, and necessary.



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 hourly fees paid for services provided by
vocational experts, including, but not limited to, vocational
evaluations and expert testimony determined to be reasonable, actual,
and necessary by 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 that are
reasonable, actual, and necessary.