(a) No compensation shall be paid or furnished to a disaster service worker or a dependent of a disaster service worker pursuant to this division absent an initial appropriation of funds for the purpose of furnishing compensation to a disaster service worker or a dependent of a disaster service worker. Liability for the initial payment or furnishing of compensation is dependent upon and limited to the availability of money so appropriated.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when appropriated funds are temporarily unavailable for disbursement, the State Compensation Insurance Fund may provide compensation to an eligible claimant under this section whose injuries have previously either been accepted or found to be compensable by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
(1) Compensation to, and benefits for, an eligible claimant provided for under this subdivision may include the issuance of checks by the State Compensation Insurance Fund.
(2) Within 30 days of the date funds that had been temporarily unavailable are appropriated, and therefore become available, the California Emergency Management Agency shall reimburse the State Compensation Insurance Fund for compensation paid to, or benefits paid for, a claimant pursuant to paragraph (1), in addition to any applicable interest, service fees, or charges.
(c) After all money appropriated as described in subdivision (a) is expended or set aside in bookkeeping reserves for the payment or furnishing of compensation and reimbursing the State Compensation Insurance Fund for its services, the payment or furnishing of compensation for an injury to a disaster service worker or his or her dependents is dependent upon there having been a reserve set up for the payment or furnishing of compensation to that disaster service worker or his or her dependents and for that injury, and liability is limited to the amount of the reserve. The excess in a reserve for the payment or furnishing of compensation or for reimbursing the State Compensation Insurance Fund for its compensation payments and services may be transferred to reserves of other disaster service workers for the payment or furnishing of compensation and reimbursing the State Compensation Insurance Fund, or may be used to set up reserves for other disaster service workers.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 12, Sec. 25. Effective July 28, 2009.)