Oakland, CA  – Beginning Wednesday, September 16, the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) will make available to the public a one-hour, on-demand webinar on SB 1159 (Hill), the compromise bill passed by California lawmakers on the final day of the 2020 legislative session that establishes a workers’ compensation presumption of compensability for COVID-19 cases.  The bill was passed as an urgency measure and will take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. 

CWCI began studying the details of the compromise legislation as soon the final bill was passed by the Legislature on August 31, and has prepared the one-hour training webinar to explain the complicated aspects of how the presumption of compensability now applies to various segments of the California workforce.  The webinar, SB 1159, The Proof Is in the Presumption, is presented by CWCI’s General Counsel Ellen Sims Langille and the Institute’s Claims and Medical Director Jackie Secia, who explain the different sets of rules that apply depending on the date of injury, occupation, and positivity rates.  In addition, the program covers the important new COVID-19 notification rules for employers that were mandated by SB 1159 as well as AB 685 (Reyes), which has also been sent to the governor, but with a January 1, 2021 effective date.

This is a must-see training opportunity for workers’ compensation claims professionals, defense attorneys, and anyone who wants to understand how the new presumptions affect the California workers’ compensation system. The webinar is available free to CWCI member company employees and is $99 for all others.  Pre-registration is required.  CWCI has received certification to offer 1.0 hour of MCLE credits, including 1.0 hour of Workers’ Compensation Specialization credit, from the State Bar of California for the program.  CWCI also will provide certificates of attendance upon completion of the program for submission to the Association of Hearing Representatives of California and for the verification of hours for those in need of credit for the California Department of Insurance workers’ compensation claims adjuster certification requirements.  

To register, click here.  Log-in instructions will be emailed directly to all registrants after they sign up.  If you have questions, please call CWCI at 510-251-9470.