Sen. Dodd Introduces Worker Protection Bill

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation today to protect employees of contractors by ensuring compliance with California workers’ compensation laws.

“While many do the right thing, too often we have seen contractors who do not carry workers’ compensation insurance,” Sen. Bill Dodd said. “My bill will eliminate barriers to coverage so we can protect those employees who might be injured on the job.”

In California, there are about 230,000 licensed contractors in 44 different areas, from general building and engineering to electricians, plumbers and landscapers. About 55% claim they have no employees, making them exempt from a requirement to carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, research and enforcement from the Contractors State Licensing Board suggests many of these claims are false, creating a widespread problem of leaving workers unprotected.

Sen. Dodd’s bill would require all concrete, heating and air conditioning and tree service contractors to carry the insurance, regardless of whether they claim employees or not. Further, it would require that by 2025, all licensed contractors in the state carry workers’ compensation insurance.

The bill is sponsored by the Contractors State License Board.

“Construction is one of the most dangerous occupations,” said David De La Torre, chair of the Contractors State License Board. “And the CSLB supports this effort to ensure California’s construction employers have workers’ compensation insurance on file to protect employees who are injured on the job and project owners and homeowners from worker injury claims.”

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.