SACRAMENTO — Three ballot proposals that could cost employers billions of dollars by undoing large portions of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature overhaul of the state workers' compensation system have been cleared for signature gathering by the Attorney General and Secretary of State's offices.

The measures propose to hike benefits paid to permanently disabled workers and even allow them to sue their employers in state court over on-the-job injuries should they choose to opt out of the Workers Compensation system. The latter change would undo a key feature of California's first workers' compensation law. Under that 1913 statute, injured workers traded the right to sue their employers in civil court for the promise that they would receive medical care and disability benefits, a social contract and promise that the insurance industry has a great deal of difficulty keeping.

Our phones have been ringing off the hook with injured workers wanting to know where they can pick up copies of the signature forms which are due in early July. We spoke with attorney Margaret Prinzing of the Remcho, Johansen and Purcell law firm in San Leandro who stated that the signature forms are not available at this time. We will keep you updated as to when they become available.

Meanwhile, below are links to California print media covering the story.

Workers Empowerment Act, February 20, 2006

Los Angeles Times, Mark Lifsher, February 21, 2006

San Diego Union-Tribune, Ed Mendel, February 22, 2006