Structural pest control: workers' compensation insurance coverage.

Existing law establishes the Structural Pest Control Board, within the Department of Consumer Affairs, and requires the board to license and regulate structural pest control operators, as specified. Existing law makes a violation of provisions regulating structural pest control operators a misdemeanor. Existing law, the Contractors' State License Law, provides for the licensing and regulation of contractors by the Contractors State License Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law requires every licensed contractor, or applicant for licensure, to have on file at all times with the Contractors State License Board a current and valid Certificate of Workers' Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance, or a statement certifying that they have no employees and are not required to obtain or maintain workers' compensation insurance, and specifies various rules that apply to certain license classifications. Existing law requires the insurer, including the State Compensation Insurance Fund, to report to the registrar of contractors the name, license number, policy number, dates that coverage is scheduled to commence and lapse, and cancellation date if the policy is canceled for specified reasons. Existing law provides that willful or deliberate disregard and violation of workers' compensation insurance laws constitutes a cause for disciplinary action. This bill would, similar to the provision governing contractors, prohibit the Structural Pest Control Board from issuing, reinstating, or continuing to maintain any structural pest control operator company registration unless the applicant or existing company has filed a current and valid Certificate of Workers' Compensation Insurance as evidence of current and valid Workers' Compensation Insurance coverage, or a statement certifying that they have no employees and are not required to obtain or maintain workers' compensation insurance. The bill would also require the insurer, including the State Compensation Insurance Fund, to report to the registrar of the Structural Pest Control Board the company name, registration number, policy number, dates that coverage is scheduled to commence and lapse, and cancellation date if the policy is canceled for specified reasons. The bill would provide that willful or deliberate disregard and violation of workers' compensation insurance laws constitutes a cause for disciplinary action, and that a violation of these provisions is not a misdemeanor, as specified.