BILL NUMBER: SB 542	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Mendoza

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to amend Section 139.43 of the Labor Code, relating to
workers' compensation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 542, as introduced, Mendoza. Workers' compensation.
   Existing law prohibits a person or entity, other than physicians
or attorneys, from advertising, printing, displaying, publishing,
distributing, or broadcasting in any manner a statement concerning
services or benefits to be provided to an injured worker, which is
paid for by that person or entity that is false, misleading, or
deceptive. Violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor punishable
by incarceration in the county jail for not more than one year, or by
a fine not exceeding $10,000, or by both that imprisonment and fine.

   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 139.43 of the Labor Code is amended to read:
   139.43.  (a)  No   A  person or entity
shall  not  advertise, print, display, publish, distribute,
or broadcast, or cause or permit to be advertised, printed,
displayed, published, distributed, or broadcast in any manner,
 any   a  statement concerning services or
benefits to be provided to an injured worker,  that 
 which  is paid for directly or indirectly by that person
or entity and is false, misleading, or deceptive, or that omits
material information necessary to make the statement therein not
false, misleading, or deceptive.
   (b) As soon as reasonably possible, but not later than January 1,
1994, the administrative director shall adopt regulations governing
advertising by persons or entities other than physicians and
attorneys with respect to services or benefits for injured workers.
In promulgating regulations pursuant to this subdivision, the
administrative director shall review existing regulations, including
those adopted by the State Bar, to identify those regulatory
approaches that may serve as a model for regulations required by this
subdivision.
   (c) A violation of subdivision (a) is a misdemeanor, punishable by
incarceration in the county jail for not more than one year, or by a
fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or  by 
both  that imprisonment and fine  .
   (d) This section shall not apply to physicians or attorneys. It is
the intent of the Legislature to exempt physicians and attorneys
from this section because the conduct regulated by this section, with
respect to physicians and attorneys, is governed by other provisions
of law.