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WORKERS' COMPENSATION, ROUND 2 ASSEMBLY INSURANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES ONLY MINOR REFORM BILLS Three workers' compensation reform bills strongly supported by the League passed out of the Assembly Insurance Committee on April 30, including measures dealing training requirements for workers' compensation physicians and disability ratings claims and eliminating workers' compensa- tion payments to jail inmates. While the League believes this is a move in the right direction, more reform is still needed. Unfortu- nately, most of the reform measures heard by the committee did not pass, even though they were modest attempts at curbing some of the skyrocket- ing insurance premiums that are hurting cities. This cautious approach by the committee mirrors the action last week of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, which also chose to pass a handful of only minor reform measures. The following is a list of those bills that passed: LOWENTHAL GRABS REINS ON HOUSING BATTLES AB 980 (SALINAS), AB 1158 (LOWENTHAL), SB 744 (DUNN), AND POTENTIALLY SB 619 (DUCHENY) Demonstrating once again his determination to achieve sensible and balanced progress on housing issues, Alan Lowenthal, Chair of the Assembly Com- mittee on Housing and Community Development, took the lead in calling for a bait to some of the most contentious housing bills pending in the Legislature. His action will make the bills 'two-year' measures. It complements efforts by the administration to establish a "moratorium" on some bills that have pitted local governments against development groups, providing much needed breathing room after last year's rancor- ous debates over SB 910. Affordable housing groups have objected to some aspects of the local government sponsored AB 980 (Salinas) and AB 1158 (Lowenthal), while local governments have been battling SB 744 (Dunn), and SB 619 (Ducheny). Each of these bills was discussed in more detail on April 11 in Priority Focus. * AB 1483 (Richman) - this bill would require every physician who treats and evaluates injured workers to be certified by the Industrial Medical Council as a Qualified Workers' Compensation Physician (QWCP), among other requirements. - AB 1580 ( Cocdill) — this bill would prohibit a person who is injured while incarcerated or on a jail work release program to receive workers' compen- sation payments. ' AB 1579 (Cocdill) - Existing law provides that it is unlawful for a physician to refer a person for clinical laboratory, diagnostic nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, physical therapy, physical rehabilitation, psychometric testing, home infusion therapy, or diagnostic imaging goods or services whether for treatment or medical -legal purposes if the physician or his or her immediate family has a financial interest with the person or in the entity that receives the referral. This bill would extend the application of this provision to outpatient surgery goods or services. Cities are asked to send letters of support to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Be sure to send copies to League Lobbyist Amy Brown, email 12rownaracacities.om fax — 916.658.8240. A truce on the major housing bills is not necessar- ily bad news at this point It was clear that AB 980 and AB 1158 would face problems in the Senate, and that SB 744 and SB 619 would encounter opposition in the Assembly. By becoming two-year bills, room is provided for negotiations without the pressure of tight, current year deadlines. These bills will be eligible for action in January 2004. It is unclear if SB 744 and SB 619 will move to the Assembly before becoming two-year bills, or if they will be parked in the Senate. The administration plans to form another working group to find a balanced agreement on some of the outstanding issues surrounding housing elements. An encouraging development, however, is that the state is rumored to be developing its own housing element self-certification proposal. The League will continue to be active in these forums and will continue to use its Housing Opportunity Task Force and policy committee to develop and review proposals for those discussions. Questions? Contact League Lobbyist Dan Canigg, email carricodOcacities.orc telephone 916.658.8222. PAGE 2 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site " "www.cacities.org