BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 623
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Date of Hearing: July 8, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
SB 623
(Lara) - As Amended April 14, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill expressly overrules regulations, which are contrary to
current statute, that provide that undocumented workers are not
eligible for certain workers' compensation benefits.
SB 623
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Negligible fiscal effect to Department of Industrial Relations.
This bill is aligned with current practice and is declaratory of
existing law. The regulations it supersedes have never been
enforced.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. This bill specifies an injured worker may not be
excluded from receiving workers compensation benefits from the
Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund or the Subsequent
Injuries Benefits Trust Fund based on immigration status. It
addresses an inconsistency between state law and existing
regulations when an employer fails to provide workers
compensation insurance, to ensure that undocumented workers
have access to care and treatment for their injuries.
2)Background. Regulations limiting benefits to undocumented
workers were adopted pursuant to Proposition 187 in 1994, a
voter proposition which limited numerous state benefits to
undocumented workers. Although Proposition 187 was
invalidated in federal court and the regulations have not been
enforced, they are still officially on the books.
Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
SB 623
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