BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 559|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 559
Author: Block (D)
Introduced:2/26/15
Vote: 21
SENATE LABOR & IND. REL. COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/8/15
AYES: Mendoza, Stone, Jackson, Leno, Mitchell
SUBJECT: Workers compensation: public employees
SOURCE: Service Employees International Union, Local 221
DIGEST: This bill extends "4850 leave" to lifeguards employed
on an annual, full-time basis by the City of Imperial Beach.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes a workers' compensation system that provides
benefits to an employee who suffers from an injury or illness
that arises out of and in the course of employment,
irrespective of fault. This system requires all employers to
secure payment of benefits by either securing the consent of
the Department of Industrial Relations to self-insure or by
securing insurance against liability from an insurance company
duly authorized by the state.
2)Provides for the payment of indemnity benefits if the
occupational injury causes temporary or permanent disability
which prevents the worker from returning to his or her job.
SB 559
Page 2
In the case of temporary disability payments, the benefit is
two-thirds of the weekly loss in wages due to disability for
up to 104 weeks within five years (Labor Code §§ 4650, 4653,
4654 and 4656).
3)Provides that certain public employees employed on a regular,
full-time basis regardless of their period of service, who
incur on the job injury or illness, are entitled to receive
disability payment for up to one year. These employees
include:
a) City police officers;
b) City, county, or district firefighters;
c) Sheriffs;
d) Inspectors, investigators, detectives, or personnel with
comparable titles in any district attorney's office;
e) County probation officers, group counselors, or juvenile
services officers; and
f) Lifeguards employed by Los Angeles County or the City of
San Diego.
This leave of absence is set forth in Labor Code Section 4850
and is sometimes referred to as "4850 leave."
This bill allows lifeguards employed year-round on a regular,
full-time basis by the City of Imperial Beach to be eligible for
"4850 leave."
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 4/8/15)
Service Employees International Union, Local 221 (source)
SB 559
Page 3
OPPOSITION: (Verified4/8/15)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The author and sponsor argue that
lifeguards employed by the City of Imperial Beach perform
similar work as their counterparts in San Diego and Los Angeles,
yet are currently unable to utilize "4850 leave." Proponents
further note that lifeguards employed by the City of Imperial
Beach are exposed to dangers and threats similar to that of
police officers and firefighters as they regularly perform water
rescues, operate fire boats, assist in underwater diving
searches, and deliver emergency medical aid. Proponents argue
that this bill repairs this inequity by extending "4850 leave"
provisions that cover lifeguards employed by the City of
Imperial Beach.
Prepared by:Gideon Baum / L. & I.R. / (916) 651-1556
4/10/15 12:06:35
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