BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1168 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 1168 (Pan) As Amended August 18, 2011 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |70-0 |(May 12, 2011) |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 31, | | | | | | |2011) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2