Flash Report: Rating Bureau: AB 749 to Cost $3.5 Billion

The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau estimates that Californias new benefit increase bill, AB 749, will cost the states employers $3.5 billion.Without the usual increases in utilization that historically have followed benefit hikes, the bill when fully implemented would cost $2.4 billion a year to employers, according to the Bureau. But the $3.5 billion is likely more accurate because when benefits rise, experience has been that employees file more claims and they may stay