Marc Wiesner Feb 6, 2026 a 9:22 am PST

The defense industry should take note of this. If passed as drafted, there's a large chance this will markedly increase employer and insurance costs.

Currently, if we have an employee who, after the work injury, is totally disabled but apportionment leads to less than total disability on the work comp claim, the SIBTF exists to ensure the disabled employee is appropriately compensated. With these proposed changes, be prepared to see a lot more apportionment and vocational litigation.

To Jason's point: This should go through the regular legislative process. There are stakeholders who should be part of discussing how to best ensure the SIBTF can sustainably focus on its original purpose.

Given the scrutiny over how the RAND SIBTF study's methodology, it is surprising (and, frankly, disappointing), changes to fund designed to help disabled Californians would be proposed in such a manner. Particularly given California's goal of reducing poverty and homelessness and the high incidence of disabilities among persons experiencing homelessness.