SJDV Bill Revived in Senate

A bill from 2009 which attempts to reform the Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher (SJDV) benefit appears to be on the move in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The bill, SB 3 (Cedillo, D-Los Angeles) was held last year in the Senate Appropriations Committee because of its impact on the state budget. 
 
The Senate Appropriations Committee holds legislation in its "Suspense File" when that legislation has a significant cost to the state.  All legislation in the Suspense File is then reviewed and a decision is made to either move the legislation to the floor for a vote or hold it in committee to control impact on the state budget.  AB 1603 was held in this manner last year.
 
SB 3 modifies the delivery of the SJDV benefit, institutes a single benefit level of $6000 per claim, and alters the approved uses of the benefit.  While there are some redeemable qualities to the bill, employers opposed the legislation last year because it does not resolve the core issues relating to the return-to-work process in workers' compensation. 
 
The current return-to-work process provides retraining benefits to injured workers late in the process, puts a premium on returning to the at-injury employer as opposed to any suitable employment, opens employers up to litigation related to the Fair Employment and Housing Act, and does not provide a benefit to injured workers with work restrictions but no ratable permanent disability.
 
The employer community largely opposes SB 3 because of its failure to address the full breadth of problems associated with the return-to-work process.  CCWC and other employer organizations will continue to press for a resolution to the return-to-work process that addresses the concerns of both the injured worker and employer communities.
 
 SB 3 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on January 20, 2010.