BILL NUMBER: AB 2244	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Conway

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to amend Section 4658.6 of the Labor Code, relating to
workers' compensation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2244, as introduced, Conway. Workers' compensation:
supplemental job displacement benefits.
   Existing workers' compensation law requires employers to
compensate their employees for injuries sustained during the course
of his or her employment. Existing law provides that if an injury
causes permanent disability and the injured employee does not return
to work for the employer within 60 days of the termination of
temporary disability, the injured employee is eligible for
supplemental job displacement benefits in the form of a
nontransferable voucher for education-related retraining or skill
enhancement. Existing law provides that employers who meet certain
criteria shall not be liable for the supplemental job displacement
benefit.
   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to these
provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 4658.6 of the Labor Code is amended to read:
   4658.6.  The employer shall not be liable for the supplemental job
displacement benefit if the employer meets  either 
 one  of the following conditions:
   (a) Within 30 days of the termination of temporary disability
indemnity payments, the employer offers, and the employee rejects, or
fails to accept, in the form and manner prescribed by the
administrative director, modified work, accommodating the employee's
work restrictions, lasting at least 12 months.
   (b) Within 30 days of the termination of temporary disability
indemnity payments, the employer offers, and the employee rejects, or
fails to accept, in the form and manner prescribed by the
administrative director, alternative work meeting all of the
following conditions:
   (1) The employee has the ability to perform the essential
functions of the job provided.
   (2) The job provided is in a regular position lasting at least 12
months.
   (3) The job provided offers wages and compensation that are within
15 percent of those paid to the employee at the time of injury.
   (4) The job is located within reasonable commuting distance of the
employee's residence at the time of injury.