Senate Committee Focuses on Underground Economy and Work Comp

By Greg Jones, Western Bureau ChiefThe head of the California Department of Industrial Relations says compliance with workers' compensation insurance requirements is one of the best tools for driving the so-called underground economy out of California, and she plans to step up efforts to catch violators next year.Christine Baker, who was appointed just last week to serve as director of the Department of Industrial Relations pending Senate confirmation, testified during a Dec. 5 hearing of the Select Committee of the California state Senate Business and the Underground Economy that Gov. Jer...