I had the pleasure of sitting down with Assemblymember Simon
Salinas, D-Salinas, this last week to get an update on what’s going
on in Sacramento. Hot topics that we discussed include workers’
comp reform, the state budget, and the Assemblymember’s 2004
Legislative package.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Assemblymember Simon Salinas, D-Salinas, this last week to get an update on what’s going on in Sacramento. Hot topics that we discussed include workers’ comp reform, the state budget, and the Assemblymember’s 2004 Legislative package.
Among the proposed legislation on Salinas’ agenda this year is Jenna’s Law, which would add penalties to any unreinforced masonry buildings that do not post warning placards. The bill honors the memory of Jennifer Lynn Myrick, who was killed when an unreinforced masonry building collapsed on her during the 2003 San Simeon earthquake. While a law already exists that states URM buildings must post warnings, this bill would impose penalties and thus give it more teeth, as Salinas says.
He also discusses two bills that deal with the placement of sexually violent predators and the conditions of their release. Recently, when a sexually violent predator was released from Atascadero State Hospital, his county of origin found a way to keep him out. Therefore he was placed in a neighboring county with little notice. Salinas’ bills propose that sexually violent predators be examined by two independent psychiatrists, and be returned to their county of origin.
In April, the governor signed the long-overdue workers’ comp reform package. The two burning questions I asked of Assemblymember Salinas were, what will change for business owners and workers, and how quickly? From what the Assemblymember said, changes will happen relatively quickly. Companies will see a decrease in premiums when rates are reassessed, usually midyear. What that decrease will be is yet to be determined. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has said there is justification for insurers to cut premiums 13 percent to 15 percent.
The reform package also gives injured workers the choice of seeing specialists for their particular injuries. In addition, payouts for workers will better reflect their actual expenses, versus companies having to pay over 100 percent for injuries, or reduced amounts for those severely injured.
Salinas also discussed the proposed state budget. Since its original draft in early ’04, the governor has made some changes. While community colleges won’t be feeling the heat nearly as much as last year, fee hikes are being put in place at UC and CSU campuses. Local governments will be feeling the hit for the next year or two, but to make up for this, a constitutional amendment is being placed on the November ballot guaranteeing the protection of local government property tax, sales and VLF revenues.
Assemblymember Salinas covers a lot of ground in 30 minutes, so I encourage you to watch the program on two of our community channels. Updates from the Capitol airs on Cityview 17 in Hollister/San Juan Bautista daily at 10:30 a.m., on Channel 20 in Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan Bautista.
