BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 2493
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 16, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

               AB 2493 (Hernandez) - As Introduced:  February 24, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              InsuranceVote:13 
          - 0 

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes the Administrative Director (AD) of the 
          Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) to establish, maintain, 
          administer and publish annually, a list of certified 
          administrative hearing and certified medical examination 
          interpreters determined to meet the minimum standards specified 
          in the Government Code. In addition, the bill authorizes the AD 
          to designate an independent organization to carry out these 
          functions in lieu of having the work performed within the DWC.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)Up-front costs of approximately $190,000 (Workers' 
            Compensation Revolving Fund) for the workload associated with 
            testing and certifying interpreters to create an initial list.

          2)On-going costs of approximately $120,000 (Workers' 
            Compensation Revolving Fund) to evaluate the programs and 
            update the list annually. 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  . According to the author, the budget constraints of 
            the past several years have seriously hampered the state 
            personnel board's ability to certify enough interpreters for 
            the workers' compensation system.  As a result, the author 
            contends, uncertified interpreters are frequently used. The 
            Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation 
            (CHSWC) recommended in a report issued last year that the AD 
            be authorized to designate an organization to certify 
            interpreters. This legislation is based on that 








                                                                  AB 2493
                                                                  Page  2

            recommendation. 
           
          2)Current Law  . Current law requires the State Personnel Board 
            (SPB) to establish, maintain, administer and publish annually 
            an updated list of certified court, administrative hearing, 
            and medical examination interpreters. In addition, an injured 
            worker who is not proficient in English is entitled to an 
            interpreter at various stages in the workers' compensation 
            process.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916) 
          319-2081