Latest news with #SB555
Associated Press
04-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Pacific Workers: Proposed SB 555 Could Boost Permanent Disability Benefits for California's Injured Workers
OAKLAND, Calif., April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- California Senator Anna Caballero has introduced Senate Bill 555, a critical proposal to reform the state's outdated workers' compensation system—finally adjusting permanent disability benefits to match today's soaring cost of living. Also, if passed, the bill could offer relief to thousands of injured workers who have faced stagnant compensation rates for over a decade. Currently, permanent disability benefits are calculated using a 2012 framework, failing to account for 13 years of inflation and rising living costs. This leaves many workers struggling to maintain their livelihoods, even as costs of living rise. SB 555 proposes to bring these compensation rates into alignment with today's economic reality. In a recent episode of the Work Comp Talk Podcast, attorney Bilal Kassem, President and Co-Founder of Pacific Workers, joined the conversation to discuss the potential benefits of SB 555. Kassem's insights on how the bill could change the compensation landscape for California's workers highlight its transformative potential. 'The current system simply isn't cutting it anymore,' Kassem states. 'Injured workers deserve a permanent disability rate that matches today's cost of living, not outdated figures.' In addition to Kassem's statement, Senator Caballero concluded that 'our economy depends on the workers who keep California one of the most dynamic economy's in the world and when they are injured on the job, they deserve fair compensation that keeps up with real-world costs.' For further insights into how SB 555 could transform workers' rights, please feel free to reach out. About Pacific Workers Pacific Workers is a leading law firm dedicated to advocating for injured workers across California. With a track record of securing favorable outcomes, the firm provides compassionate legal support to ensure clients receive the compensation they deserve. Community Director
Axios
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Arkansas' capitol roundup: Primaries and prescriptions
The Arkansas Legislature took the week off from the 95th General Assembly to enjoy spring break, but some lawmakers stayed busy. The big picture: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed 35 bills into law on Tuesday, including an act authorizing over-the-counter ivermectin for human use, one creating religious rights at public schools and an act to streamline the permitting process of private clubs for restaurants, hotels and event venues. State of play: Sanders also signed a bill to shuffle when the state's primary elections will be held and when the General Assembly will meet. In non-presidential election years, the state's preferential primary will be held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, instead of in May. The primary election will follow the preferential primary by four weeks, consistent with presidential election years. The General Assembly, which convenes a fiscal session only in even-numbered years, will now meet at noon on the second Wednesday of April. Previously, they began the fiscal sessions in February. Bills filed in the past week we're watching: SB555 would amend the law to extend the statute of limitations for video voyeurism to one year after the offense was discovered, and eliminate the defense that a perpetrator was in a romantic relationship with the person who was secretly filmed or photographed without their consent. SB566 would provide $250 million from the state's general revenue for the expansion, improvement or construction of state and county correctional facilities — including mental health facilities — to help address prison overcrowding.
