The Legislature will be busy over the next several weeks meeting deadlines for passing bills out of the Assembly or Senate and, hopefully, working out a budget by the June 15 deadline. In the meantime, we are working diligently with our business allies to prepare for what is likely to be an end-of-session rush to do something about workers’ compensation disability benefits. Judicial and regulatory challenges still abound three years after SB 899 was signed into law, and some of these challenges may result in legislative intervention.

 Meanwhile, the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) will be holding open forums the week of June 11 in Los Angeles and San Francisco to listen to comments regarding their recent studies and in what direction should PD changes be taken. All of this will be added to the mix when workers’ compensation negotiations begin in earnest later in the summer. Stay tuned.