Assembly Bans Workers' Comp Cuts Due To Race, Sex

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The Assembly has approved changes to California's safety net for injured workers that would prevent cuts to disability benefits based on their race, sex or age.

The 44-22 party-line vote Thursday on AB1155 came over the objections of Republican lawmakers. They said it could lead to higher workers' compensation costs that would hurt businesses still recovering from the recession.

Current law allows doctors to assess how much of an injury is the result of work and how much is from other causes, such as previous injury.

Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Salinas cited a case in which a disability award for a San Diego worker was cut in half because he was black, and those who reviewed his case said blacks were more susceptible to hypertension.

The bill was sent to the Senate.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)