1. Type your name*

2. Type your job title

3. Type your organization name

4. Type your email or phone*

*mandatory

5. Please feel free to make changes to the letter below.

6. Click "eMAIL!" and we will send your letter!

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor, State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: I respectfully request that you VETO AB 1636 (Mendoza), which would require employers to provide some injured workers with supplemental job displacement vouchers (SJDV) prior to verification that the injured worker is actually eligible for that benefit under the law. SJDV benefits are awarded to injured workers who have permanent disability and cannot permanently return to employment with their at-injury employer. AB 1636 (Mendoza) creates a situation where an employer would be required to provide an SJDV to an injured worker no later than 74 days after the date that disability was determined to be permanent and stationary. AB 1636 (Mendoza) requires payment of the SJDV benefit on strict timeframes despite the fact that an employer is not likely to have the information necessary to accurately determine if the employee is indeed eligible for the benefit. In many instances the employer does not have permanent job restrictions within 74 days of the date that the injury is determined to be permanent and stationary. Likewise, it is uncommon to have a final disability rating within that timeframe. Without these two pieces of information the employer would be providing a benefit that they do not, in fact, know is due to the injured worker. The only way for an employer to comply with AB 1636 (Mendoza) is to make some sort of reasonable estimate as to what the level of permanent disability will be, and whether or not the employee will be able to return to work. The SJDV benefit is intended to provide an opportunity for injured workers who have a permanent disability and are unable to return to their at-injury employer. AB 1636 (Mendoza) would force an employer to provide that benefit before eligibility is determined and penalizes employers for complying with the law. For the reasons stated above, I respectfully REQUEST that you VETO AB 1636.