A controversial bill that would make it easier to for survivors of police and firefighters to collect workers’ compensation benefits passed the Assembly Tuesday.
The bill would double the amount of time survivors could claim benefits for deaths presumed by current law to be job-related. That includes cancer, tuberculosis and blood borne diseases.
Republican Assembly member Chris Norby opposed the bill, claiming it would cost local governments millions of dollars.
“All levels of local government oppose this bill, and there’s a very simple reason - because it imposes costs on them without increasing their ability to pay for those costs. This is an unfunded mandate. I don’t think anyone here can disagree with that,” stated Norby.
The bill was authored by Democratic Assembly Speaker John Pérez.
It passed 51 to 18 and now heads to the Governor’s desk.
