NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Contact: Steve Hopcraft,
916/457-5546; Steve@hopcraft.com

BILL WOULD BAN BIAS IN DISABILITY BENEFITS:
Migden Bill to Prohibit Insurers from Penalizing Women,
Ethnic Minorities, Older Workers;
Millions of Dollars Deducted each Year

On Tuesday, February 12th, Sen. Carole Migden, VotersInjuredatWork.org, the
California Applicants Attorneys Association (CAAA) and supporters will unveil
legislation to ban race, gender and age discrimination in awarding disability
compensation to workers injured on the job. SB 899, Governor Schwarzenegger’s
workers’ compensation bill, is permitting discrimination against California workers
based on their age, race and gender. The measure allows insurers and doctors to
reduce permanent disability compensation awards based on gender, race and age.
Compensation to disabled workers has been cut by millions each year due to this
discrimination.

“Tuesday is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, and on that day we will launch our effort
to ban discrimination based on genetic factors such as age, race and gender,” said
Sue Borg, president of CAAA, whose members represent those injured at work. “It
boggles the mind that in 2008 insurers and their doctors are allowed to penalize
women, minorities and the elderly. This measure will end such blatant bias and
injustice in awarding disability compensation.”

WHO: Sen. Carole Migden; Injured workers and their advocates
WHEN: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
10:00 am
WHERE: State Capitol, Room 113
DIAL-IN: 1-866-846-3997, PASSCODE: 389042

Download pdf: Advisory_SB1115_21208.pdf