AB 1576: Workers’ compensation: Subsequent injuries payments.

<p>The bill amends California's workers' compensation laws to adjust how permanent disability is calculated for employees who suffer a subsequent injury. For injuries occurring between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012, the calculation would consider whole person impairment ratings from the American Medical Association guides without adjusting for occupation or age but accounting for diminished future earning capacity. Injuries after January 1, 2013, would use a similar method but replace the earning capacity adjustment with a fixed factor of 1.4.</p> <p>The bill also updates eligibility criteria for special additional compensation from the subsequent injuries benefits trust fund, requiring substantial evidence that prior permanent partial disability predated and impacted the employee's work or daily living before the subsequent injury occurred in 2027 and beyond. It mandates the c…