Articles

from State Compensation Insurance Fund

Powder-actuated tools are tools that function by utilizing an explosive charge. With a high velocity tool, the propellant acts directly on the fastener much like a firearm. With a low velocity tool, a piston is introduced into the chamber. The propellant acts on the piston, which then drives the fastener into the substrate. Regardless of the type of tool that is used, workers can be seriously injured or killed if a powder-actuated tool is improperly used or if safety precautions are not followed.

By Sam K. Abdulaziz, & Kenneth S. Grossbart, Abdulaziz, Grossbart and Rudman

Each year, our Legislature creates numerous proposed new laws, which are called Bills.  If these Bills pass through both the Senate and the Assembly, they are then sent to the Governor to be signed or vetoed.  If the Governor vetoes a Bill, then we do not hear about it again, or at least not for a while.  However, if the Governor signs a Bill, it becomes a new law.  New laws usually become effective in January of the next year, but not always.
    

The Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) has announced that the State Allocation Board approved Priority Funding apportionments totaling $923.8 million at its December 14, 2011 meeting.

The state matching funds will help finance 377 school construction projects in 154 school districts statewide.

The apportionments were made possible by the State Treasurer’s October 19, 2011 bond sale, which yielded nearly $1 billion for the School Facility Program (SFP).

By David Kalb, President of Capitol Services, Inc.
 
Real world problems can sometimes be easy to solve. At other times, the complex nature of the problem seems to require a ‘by the numbers’ approach if you expect to reach your goal successfully. A contractor looking at a new ‘venture’ shows everyone the route to ‘jointly’ profiting…
 

 
From Dan Burns, Group Insurance Manager, State Compensation Insurance Fund
 
On November 18th, 2011, State Fund announced plans to disburse $50 million to qualifying policyholders in the form of a premium credit that is based on 2011 estimated annual premiums and will be applied during the 2012 policy year. The credit would be available to 2011 policyholders who:
 
•    Paid their premiums timely and kept their policy in good standing in 2011,

By John P McGill, Attorney at Law

from Kevin Pedrotti, Legislative Advocate for the Golden State Builders Exchanges
 

Legislation and more legislation

Last Friday was the deadline for the introduction of legislation for the 2012 legislative year. While overall introductions were down approximately 30% in comparison to past years, there remains a host of issues that will be considered this year. The GSBE tracking list includes 160 bills which is the usual number of bills we track in a given legislative year.