News

Assembly Bill 1329, introduced by Assembly Member Ortega on February 21, 2025, proposes changes to California’s workers’ compensation system, particularly regarding the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF). The bill renames the fund to the “Second-Chance Employer’s Risk Reduction Trust Fund” and modifies the method for determining permanent disability resulting from subsequent injuries. For injuries after January 1, 2013, the bill replaces the consideration of diminished earning capacity with an adjustment factor. Additionally, it establishes new requirements for determining eligibility and compensation, including the use of prior medical records and testimony to assess prior disabilities. It also mandates the creation of a database of qualified medical evaluators and shifts responsibility for payments of additional compensation from the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) to the Director of Industrial Relations. The bill aims to improve the efficiency and fairness of the workers’ compensation system for employees with multiple disabilities.