State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > California > Lab > 4401-4406LABOR CODE
SECTION 4401-4406
4401. It is the declared policy of the state that qualified injured workers with asbestosis which arises out of and occurs in the course of employment shall receive workers' compensation asbestos workers' benefits promptly and not be subjected to delays of litigation to determine the responsible employer. 4402. (a) "Asbestosis" means any pathology, whether or not combined with preexisting pathology, which results in disability or need for medical treatment from inhalation of asbestos fibers. (b) "Asbestos worker" means any person whose occupation subjected him or her to an exposure to asbestos fibers. (c) "Asbestos workers' benefits" means temporary total disability benefits, permanent total disability benefits, death benefits, and medical benefits. (d) "Dependents" means, and is limited to, a surviving spouse who at the time of injury was dependent on the deceased asbestos worker for half or more of his or her support, and minor children of the deceased asbestos worker. 4403. The Asbestos Workers' Account is hereby created in the Uninsured Employers Fund in the State Treasury, and shall be administered by the Director of Industrial Relations. The money in the Asbestos Workers' Account is hereby continuously appropriated for the purposes of this chapter, and to pay the expenses of the director in administering these provisions. 4404. Insofar as not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, all of the provisions of this division shall pertain to asbestos workers and their dependents for purposes of furnishing workers' compensation asbestos workers' benefits thereto. 4405. Where the conditions of compensation exist under this division the right to recover workers' compensation asbestos workers' benefits pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is a temporary remedy for injury to an asbestos worker against the Asbestos Workers' Account, and such asbestos worker or his or her dependents shall make all reasonable effort to establish the identity of the employer responsible for securing the payment of compensation. 4406. (a) Payments as advances on workers' compensation asbestos workers' benefits shall be furnished an asbestos worker for injury resulting in asbestosis, or the dependents of the asbestos worker in the case of his or her death due to asbestosis, subject to the provisions of this division, if all of the following conditions occur: (1) The asbestos worker demonstrates to the account that at the time of exposure, the asbestos worker was performing services and was acting within the scope of his or her duties in an occupation that subjected the asbestos worker to the exposure to asbestos. (2) The asbestos worker demonstrates to the account that he or she is suffering from asbestosis. (3) The asbestos worker demonstrates to the account that he or she developed asbestosis from the employment. (4) The asbestos worker is entitled to compensation for asbestosis as otherwise provided for in this division. (b) The findings of the account with regard to the conditions in subdivision (a) shall not be evidence in any other proceeding. (c) The account shall require the asbestos worker to submit to an independent medical examination unless the information and assistance officer, in consultation with the medical director or his or her designee, determines that there exists adequate medical evidence that the worker developed asbestosis from the employment.
