Bills Would Make State Hospital Patients Eligible for Comp

Patients in California Department of State Hospital facilities would be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits for injuries arising out of and in the course of rehabilitation program work assignments, under recently amended legislation. Identical budget bills AB 78 and SB 78 were both amended Tuesday to propose a new Labor Code Section 3370.1 authorizing workers’ compensation and death benefits for state hospital patients. Patients would be eligible to receive benefits for injuries. The bills would also declare that patients are not entitled to temporary disability benefits ...