Subject: Senator Perata's Response to Governor's Veto

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Alicia Trost
September 19, 2006 (916) 651-4188



Statement by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata on the veto of SB 815 (Perata):


“Three years ago Governor Schwarzenegger made a commitment that the workers’ compensation system would not be fixed by slashing permanent disability benefits to the most seriously injured workers.
SB 815 was a responsible way for him to keep his commitment. I am disappointed he did not.

SB 815 would have made a meaningful difference for permanently disabled workers without making a scratch on the state’s economy or business climate.

With one of the state’s biggest private workers' compensation carriers saying the bill is fair, the governor should have signed it. With employer costs continuing to drop and insurance company profits continuing to rise, the governor should have approved this reasonable measure of justice for permanently injured workers.”


Background on SB 815:

The bill states that the purpose of the workers’ compensation reform bills of the last few years was to make the compensation system fair, but that it will likely be several years until we know the full implications of all of the changes and that in the meantime we need to make sure injured workers are receiving adequate benefits. It also states that the bill isn’t intended to undermine the positive effect reform bills have had on employers and workers.

The bill doubles the number of weeks a permanently disabled worker receives benefits. It makes the change in three equal increments over three years. This has the effect of doubling permanent disability – if an individual was entitled to $170 per week for 20 weeks, under the bill he or she would be entitled to $170 per week for 40 weeks. The bill does nothing to change the conditions of eligibility. It only affects workers who were already entitled to permanent disability benefits. During the three year period in which the bill adjusts benefits for injured workers, the data collection needed to evaluate reform measures can be collected and used to make adjustments, if necessary, to the permanent disability benefit schedule.

I know Dawn, I ws so disappointed he vetoed that bill.

What do we have to do, wait until he leaves office and someone gets in there to make it fair before we settle?

I have no interest in settling under these circumstances.

Hope