Governor Signs SIBTF Reforms

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill implementing his administration's Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund reforms. Newsom on Monday signed SB 171, a budget trailer bill that includes provisions to tighten eligibility criteria for SIBTF claims and permanently adopt a statute giving the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board 60 days from the date it receives a case file to act on a petition for reconsideration. The administration has argued that the reforms are necessary because the Department of Industrial Relations estimates that total liabilities for the program and th...