HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB 2451 LTR to Blakeslee 20120823o/.
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�� OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
4 / g O 990 Palm Street ■ San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 ■ 805/781-7119
August 23, 2012
VIA FACSIMILE ONLY, 916-651-4015
The Honorable Sam Blakeslee
California State Senate
State Capitol Building, Room 4066
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: AB 2451 (Perez): Workers' compensation: firefighters and peace officers
NOTICE OF OPPOSITION (As Amended 812012012)
Dear Senator Blakeslee
The City San Luis Obispo is opposed to AB 2451, authored by Assembly Speaker John
A. Perez, which would extend the statute of limitations from 240 weeks to 480 for a presumptive
death benefit claim for cancer, tuberculosis, or MRSA to be filed on behalf of a firefighter or
peace officer.
Under current law, death benefit claims for workers' compensation are to be commenced
within one year of: the date of death when death occurs within one year from the date of injury;
the date of the last furnishing of workers' compensation benefits when death occurs more than
one year from the date of injury; or, the date of death when death occurs more than one year after
the date of injury and workers' compensation benefits have been furnished. Current law
additionally requires that no claims may commence unless the death has occurred within 240
weeks of the date of injury, with few exceptions.
While the August 20, 2012 amendments significantly narrow the bill's scope, it doubles
the statute of limitations for specific presumptive injuries. This increased benefit will impose
additional costs on public employers at a time when we can least afford it and when we are
struggling to provide the most basic services.
Additionally, we believe that AB 2451 erodes the original intent of the Workers'
Compensation Act and subsequent reforms to the system enacted in 2004, designed to provide
fair and timely benefits to injured employees at a reasonable cost to employers.
For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo is opposed to AB 2451.
Sincerely,
?Jan Marx
Mayor
Cc: City Council
Katie Lichtig
Speaker P6rez, fax 916-319-2146
David Mullinax, Regional Representative, League of California Cities
Natasha Karl, Legislative Representative, League of California Cities, fax: 916-658-8240