Workers' compensation: liens.

Existing law establishes a workers' compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of his or her employment. Existing workers' compensation law authorizes the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board to determine and allow specified expenses as liens against any sum to be paid as compensation. Existing law requires, before issuing an award or approval of any compromise of claim, the determination of whether any benefits have been paid or services provided by specified entities. This bill would require the appeals board to allow a lien for loss-of-time benefits paid by a self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, as defined. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 4903.1 of the Labor Code proposed by SB 863 that would become operative only if SB 863 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2013, and this bill is chaptered last.