California Gov. Schwarzenegger Pens Workers’ Comp Legislation

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed State Senator Jackie Speier’s workers’ compensation legislation in an effort to help in the fight against fraud abuse. The signed bills impose new restrictions and higher fines for insurance fraud, and in particular workers’ comp fraud.

In a note to members of the California State Senate, the Governor noted, “I am signing Senate Bill 2 (4th Extraordinary Session), which increases penalties for employers who commit workers’ compensation fraud. This bill makes important policy changes that I strongly favor. Unfortunately it also chapters out two provisions in Assembly Bill 1667 (Chapter 368, Statutes of 2004) and Assembly Bill 3081 (Chapter 182, Statutes of 2004), both of which I signed.

“Understanding the importance of both those measures, I encourage the Legislature to correct this problem when the new legislative session begins.”