BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 1168
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 1168 (Pan)
          As Amended  August 18, 2011
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |70-0 |(May 12, 2011)  |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 31,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2011)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:    INS.

          SUMMARY  :  Requires the Administrative Director (AD) of the 
          Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) to adopt a fee schedule 
          for services and testimony by vocational experts in the workers' 
          compensation system.

           The Senate amendments  clarify that the maximum fees which the AD 
          is directed to adopt refer to the maximum hourly fees to be paid 
          to vocational experts (as opposed to an aggregate cap on 
          compensation).

           EXISTING LAW  establishes fee schedules or presumptive maximum 
          hourly rates for virtually all goods and services in the 
          workers' compensation system, but does not address the fees that 
          can be charged by vocational experts.

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill directed the AD to adopt a 
          fee schedule to set the maximum fees to be paid to vocational 
          experts.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations 
          Committee, up to $75,000 special fund costs in each of the 
          current and next fiscal years, for the AD to adopt the 
          vocational services fee schedule.


           Analysis prepared by  :    Mark Rakich / INS. / (916) 319-2086


                                                              FN:  0002083 












                                                                  AB 1168
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