BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2493
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GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 2493 (Roger Hernández)
As Amended July 3, 2012
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |65-9 |(May 30, 2012) |SENATE: |31-4 |(August 22, |
| | | | | |2012) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |63-16|(August 28, | | | |
| | |2012) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: INS.
SUMMARY : Authorizes the Administrative Director (AD) of the
Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) to certify interpreters.
The Senate amendments recast the authorization for the AD to
certify interpreters, and adopt a requirement that a certifying
organization not have any financial interest in training or
employing interpreters.
EXISTING LAW :
1)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.
2)Entitles an injured worker who is not proficient in English to
an interpreter at various stages of the workers' compensation
process.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY the bill had substantially the same
effect as the version passed by the Senate.
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FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly and Senate
Appropriations Committees, $190,000 first year costs, and
$120,000 ongoing costs, to operate the certification program,
offset by fees charged to applicants for certification.
COMMENTS : According to the author, the budget constraints of
the past several years have seriously hampered the SPB's ability
to certify enough interpreters for the workers' compensation
system. As a result, 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.
Language identical to the language contained in this bill was
included in the comprehensive workers' compensation reform bill
- SB 863 (De León).
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
"The recently enacted landmark comprehensive workers'
compensation reform legislation makes this measure unnecessary.
The provisions of this measure are included in the larger reform
package. I thank the author for his hard work and commitment to
making the system better for employers and employees alike.
"These reforms - backed by both Democrats and Republicans -
reduce costs to businesses and protect workers. Further, they
will help to avert an imminent crisis of skyrocketing rates that
would have hurt both injured workers and businesses."
Analysis Prepared by : Mark Rakich / INS. / (916) 319-2086
FN: 0006003
AB 2493
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