The law is designed to increase benefits to injured workers
while reducing workers' compensation costs for employers.
It passed the legislature on a bipartisan vote despite some
lawmakers' complaints that there was little time to discuss
it.
Governor Brown made two stops to tout the new law; one in San
Diego and the other in Burbank.
He says changes are needed because the cost of insurance has
risen from $15 billion to $19 billion in the past two years.
It's estimated to increase an additional 12 percent in the
coming months.
The Governor says the law will increase permanent disability
benefits to workers by 30-percent while decreasing insurance losses
to businesses by close to one billion dollars.
BROWN: "We're saving hundreds of millions of dollars for business, we're getting workers back to work faster we're getting them the kind of medical care they need that's appropriate."
Some attorneys who represent injured workers don't like the
new law.
They say it will limit litigation, which could mean fewer
benefits for their clients.