BILL NUMBER: SB 522	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Mendoza

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to amend Section 139.45 of the Labor Code, relating to
workers' compensation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 522, as introduced, Mendoza. Workers' compensation:
advertisements.
   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 to promulgate regulations
regarding advertisements relating to workers' compensation, and
requires the administrative director to take particular care to
preclude any advertisements with respect to industrial injuries or
illnesses that are false or that mislead the public with respect to
workers' compensation.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes 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 139.45 of the Labor Code is amended to read:
   139.45.  (a) In promulgating regulations pursuant to Sections
139.4 and 139.43, the administrative director shall take particular
care to preclude any advertisements with respect to industrial
injuries or illnesses that are false or  that  mislead the
public with respect to workers' compensation. In promulgating rules
with respect to advertising, the State Bar  of California 
and physician licensing boards shall also take particular care to
achieve the same goal.
   (b) For purposes of subdivision (a), false or misleading
advertisements shall include advertisements that do any of the
following:
   (1) Contain an untrue statement.
   (2) Contain any matter, or present or arrange any matter in a
manner or format that is false, deceptive, or that tends to confuse,
deceive, or mislead.
   (3) Omit any fact necessary to make the statement made, in the
light of the circumstances under which the statement is made, not
misleading.
   (4) Are transmitted in any manner that involves coercion, duress,
compulsion, intimidation, threats, or vexatious or harassing conduct.

   (5) Entice a person to respond by the offering of any
consideration, including a good or service but excluding free medical
evaluations or treatment, that would be provided either at no charge
or for less than market value.  No   A 
free medical evaluation or treatment shall  not  be offered
for the purpose of defrauding any entity.