The Carlo Law Group

05/25/2026

Former Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Injured Workers
and Public Safety Advocates to Sound Alarm on Proposed Cuts
and Changes to Injured Worker Benefits

WHAT:

Injured workers, public safety representatives and advocates will gather at the California State Capitol to raise concerns regarding proposed changes to the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) currently being discussed as part of the state budget process. Speakers will discuss the potential impact on injured workers currently relying on the program and call for a more transparent public policy process surrounding any proposed reforms.

Speakers will include former California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, injured workers directly impacted by the issue and representatives from the public safety community.

WHO:

• Bill Lockyer, Former California Attorney General and State Treasurer
• Statewide elected officials
• Injured workers impacted by proposed SIBTF changes
• Public safety advocates and coalition representatives
• Spanish speakers available for media

WHEN:

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 - 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

WHERE:

California State Capitol Grounds
Section 27, Sacramento, CA

BACKGROUND:

The Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) provides critical support to California workers who suffer serious workplace injuries that compound prior disabilities or medical conditions. Proposed changes to the program could impact approximately 30,000 pending claims involving injured workers across California.

Advocates, labor representatives and public safety organizations have raised concerns that the proposed changes are being advanced through the budget trailer bill process rather than through the traditional legislative process, which would include full public hearings and policy committee review. Opponents argue the changes could significantly reduce or delay benefits for permanently disabled injured workers, including many public safety personnel and frontline workers.

VISUALS:

• Injured workers and advocates gathered on Capitol grounds
• Public safety representatives speaking in support of workers
• Pull-away interviews available with all of the day’s speakers following the press conference
• Additional b-roll and supporting visuals available to media upon request ahead of the event

MEDIA CONTACT:
Patrick Harbison
[email protected]
916-747-9143

02/20/2026

🚨 ALERT: California Budget Trailer Bill Threatens Injured Workers and Veterans

A proposed California budget trailer bill would drastically change Labor Code § 4754.1 and effectively dismantle the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF). The 2026 budget trailer bill draft (RN 26 04602) explicitly adds § 4754.1 and related SIBTF reforms.
SIBTF was created after World War I to protect veterans and injured workers who already had disabilities and were hurt again on the job. It is a lifeline for people who would otherwise be left without adequate benefits.

Sneaking this major policy change into a budget trailer bill is unfair and undemocratic. This is not a minor budget tweak—this is a fundamental rollback of worker and veteran protections that should go through the full legislative process with hearings and public debate. There is a Standalone bill (e.g., AB 1576) reintroducing § 4754.1 in 2026 that is currently in committee.

If this passes, thousands of California workers and veterans will lose critical benefits they earned through service and sacrifice.

👉 Contact your State Senator and Assembly Member today and urge them to oppose this trailer bill change.
👉 Tell them: Protect SIBTF. Protect injured workers. Protect veterans.

04/29/2024

Help disabled citizens of California receive the proper benefits they deserve!

Signing our petition will be the first step of many to make a difference.

If California doubles it’s PD rate we will be roughly half as bad as Texas. California business interests can congratulate themselves on successfully lobbying for a workers’ compensation system that provides among the worst PD rates in the country. It is now time to take care of our working clas...

04/11/2024

Listen up California!

California has not increased permanent disability (PD) benefits for disabled workers in the Workers’ Compensation system in the past 10 years. The last PD increase was in 2014.

Currently, a 10% disability for an injury occurring in 2024 in California is valued at $8,772.50. In comparison, a 10% disability in Texas is valued at $35,220.00.

In Texas, a 10% impairment rating (IR) results in 30 weeks of impairment income benefits (IIBs), with workers receiving three weeks of IIBs for each percentage of impairment (10 x 3 = 30). IIBs are 70% of the average weekly wage (AWW), with a maximum rate of $1,174.00 in 2024. In contrast, the PD rate in California is $290.00. Therefore, a 10% disability in Texas pays $35,220.00.

If California were to double its PD rate, it would still be approximately half of what Texas offers. This reflects the current lobbying efforts that have shaped California’s workers' compensation system.

You can help by signing our petition linked in our bio and contacting your local representative to advocate for change in support of injured workers in California.

07/24/2023

Always grateful to support our local heroes.
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Siempre agradecido de apoyar a nuestros héroes locales.