Employers, Employees, and Dependents

Section 3300§Sections

As used in this division, “employer” means:

(a) The State and every State agency.

(b) Each county, city, district, and all public and quasi public corporations and public agencies therein.

(c) Every person including any public service corporation, which has any natural person in service.

(d) The legal representative of any deceased employer.

(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

Section 3301§Sections

As used in this division, “employer” excludes the following:

(a) Any person while acting solely as the sponsor of a bowling team.

(b) Any private, nonprofit organization while acting solely as the sponsor of a person who, as a condition of sentencing by a superior or municipal court, is performing services for the organization.

The exclusions of this section do not exclude any person or organization from the application of this division which is otherwise an employer for the purposes of this division.

(Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 21, Sec. 7. Effective April 18, 1981.)

Section 3302§Sections

(a) (1) When a licensed contractor enters an agreement with a temporary employment agency, employment referral service, labor contractor, or other similar entity for the entity to supply the contractor with an individual to perform acts or contracts for which the contractor’s license is required under Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code and the licensed contractor is responsible for supervising the employee’s work, the temporary employment agency, employment referral service, labor contractor, or other similar entity shall pay workers’ compensation premiums based on the contractor’s experience modification rating.

(2) The temporary employment agency, employment referral service, labor contractor, or other similar entity described in paragraph (1) shall report to the insurer both of the following:

(A) Its payroll on a monthly basis in sufficient detail to allow the insurer to determine the number of workers provided and the wages paid to these workers during the period the workers were supplied to the licensed contractor.

(B) The licensed contractor’s name, address, and experience modification factor as reported by the licensed contractor.

(C) The workers’ compensation classifications associated with the payroll reported pursuant to subparagraph (A). Classifications shall be assigned in accordance with the rules set forth in the California Workers’ Compensation Uniform Statistical Reporting Plan published by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau.

(b) The temporary employment agency, employment referral service, labor contractor, or other similar entity supplying the individual under the conditions specified in subdivision (a) shall be solely responsible for the individual’s workers’ compensation, as specified in subdivision (a).

(c) Nothing in this section is intended to change existing law in effect on December 31, 2002, as it relates to the sole remedy provisions of this division and the special employer provisions of Section 11663 of the Insurance Code.

(d) A licensed contractor that is using a temporary worker supplied pursuant to subdivision (a) shall notify the temporary employment agency, employment referral service, labor contractor, or other similar entity that supplied that temporary worker when either of the following occurs:

(1) The temporary worker is being used on a public works project.

(2) The contractor reassigns a temporary worker to a position other than the classification to which the worker was originally assigned.

(e) A temporary employment agency, employment referral service, labor contractor, or other similar entity may pass through to a licensed contractor any additional costs incurred as a result of this section.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1098, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Section 3350§Sections

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this article shall govern the construction and meaning of the terms and phrases used in this division.

(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

Section 3351§Sections

“Employee” means every person in the service of an employer under any appointment or contract of hire or apprenticeship, express or implied, oral or written, whether lawfully or unlawfully employed, and includes:

(a) Persons who are not citizens or nationals of the United States and minors.

(b) All elected and appointed paid public officers.

(c) All officers and members of boards of directors of quasi-public or private corporations while rendering actual service for the corporations for pay. An officer or member of a board of directors may elect to be excluded from coverage in accordance with paragraph (16), (18), or (19) of subdivision (a) of Section 3352.

(d) Except as provided in paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 3352, any person employed by the owner or occupant of a residential dwelling whose duties are incidental to the ownership, maintenance, or use of the dwelling, including the care and supervision of children, or whose duties are personal and not in the course of the trade, business, profession, or occupation of the owner or occupant.

(e) All persons incarcerated in a state penal or correctional institution while engaged in assigned work or employment as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 10021 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, or engaged in work performed under contract.

(f) All working members of a partnership or limited liability company receiving wages irrespective of profits from the partnership or limited liability company. A general partner of a partnership or a managing member of a limited liability company may elect to be excluded from coverage in accordance with paragraph (17) of subdivision (a) of Section 3352.

(g) A person who holds the power to revoke a trust, with respect to shares of a private corporation held in trust or general partnership or limited liability company interests held in trust. To the extent that this person is deemed to be an employee described in subdivision (c) or (f), as applicable, the person may also elect to be excluded from coverage as described in subdivision (c) or (f), as applicable, if that person otherwise meets the criteria for exclusion, as described in Section 3352.

(h) A person committed to a state hospital facility under the State Department of State Hospitals, as defined in Section 4100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, while engaged in and assigned work in a vocation rehabilitation program, including a sheltered workshop.

(i) Beginning on July 1, 2020, any individual who is an employee pursuant to Section 2775. This subdivision shall not apply retroactively.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 133, Sec. 1. (AB 1766) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Section 3351.5§Sections

“Employee” includes:

(a) Any person whose employment training is arranged by the State Department of Rehabilitation with any employer. Such person shall be deemed an employee of such employer for workers’ compensation purposes; provided that, the department shall bear the full amount of any additional workers’ compensation insurance premium expense incurred by the employer due to the provisions of this section.

(b) Any person defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3351 who performs domestic service comprising in-home supportive services under Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300), Chapter 3, Part 3, Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. For purposes of Section 3352, such person shall be deemed an employee of the recipient of such services for workers’ compensation purposes if the state or county makes or provides for direct payment to such person or to the recipient of in-home supportive services for the purchase of services, subject to the provisions of Section 12302.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(c) Any person while engaged by contract for the creation of a specially ordered or commissioned work of authorship in which the parties expressly agree in a written instrument signed by them that the work shall be considered a work made for hire, as defined in Section 101 of Title 17 of the United States Code, and the ordering or commissioning party obtains ownership of all the rights comprised in the copyright in the work.

(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1332, Sec. 1.)

Section 3352§Sections

(a) “Employee,” excludes the following:

(1) A person defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3351 who is employed by his or her parent, spouse, or child.

(2) A person performing services in return for aid or sustenance only, received from any religious, charitable, or relief organization.

(3) A person holding an appointment as deputy clerk or deputy sheriff appointed for his or her own convenience, and who does not receive compensation from the county or municipal corporation or from the citizens of that county or municipal corporation for his or her services as the deputy. This exclusion is operative only as to employment by the county or municipal corporation and does not deprive that person of recourse against a private person employing him or her for injury occurring in the course of, and arising out of, the employment.

(4) A person performing voluntary services at or for a recreational camp, hut, or lodge operated by a nonprofit organization, exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, of which he or she or a member of his or her family is a member and who does not receive compensation for those services, other than meals, lodging, or transportation.

(5) A person performing voluntary service as a ski patrolman who does not receive compensation for those services, other than meals or lodging or the use of ski tow or ski lift facilities.

(6) A person employed by a ski lift operator to work at a snow ski area who is relieved of, and is not performing any, prescribed duties, while participating in recreational activities on his or her own initiative.

(7) A person, other than a regular employee, participating in sports or athletics who does not receive compensation for the participation other than the use of athletic equipment, uniforms, transportation, travel, meals, lodgings, or other expenses incidental thereto.

(8) A person described in subdivision (d) of Section 3351 whose employment by the employer to be held liable, during the 90 calendar days immediately preceding the date of injury, for injuries as described in Section 5411, or during the 90 calendar days immediately preceding the date of the last employment in an occupation exposing the employee to the hazards of the disease or injury, for diseases or injuries as described in Section 5412, comes within either of the following descriptions:

(A) The employment was, or was contracted to be, for less than 52 hours.

(B) The employment was, or was contracted to be, for wages of not more than one hundred dollars ($100).

(9) A person performing voluntary service for a public agency or a private, nonprofit organization who does not receive remuneration for the services, other than meals, transportation, lodging, or reimbursement for incidental expenses.

(10) A person, other than a regular employee, performing officiating services relating to amateur sporting events sponsored by a public agency or private, nonprofit organization, who does not receive remuneration for these services, other than a stipend for each day of service no greater than the amount established by the Department of Human Resources as a per diem expense for employees or officers of the state. The stipend shall be presumed to cover incidental expenses involved in officiating, including, but not limited to, meals, transportation, lodging, rule books and courses, uniforms, and appropriate equipment.

(11) A student participating as an athlete in amateur sporting events sponsored by a public agency or public or private nonprofit college, university, or school, who does not receive remuneration for the participation, other than the use of athletic equipment, uniforms, transportation, travel, meals, lodgings, scholarships, grants-in-aid, or other expenses incidental thereto.

(12) A law enforcement officer who is regularly employed by a local or state law enforcement agency in an adjoining state and who is deputized to work under the supervision of a California peace officer pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 832.6 of the Penal Code.

(13) A law enforcement officer who is regularly employed by the Oregon State Police, the Nevada Department of Public Safety, or the Arizona Department of Public Safety and who is acting as a peace officer in this state pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 830.39 of the Penal Code.

(14) A person, other than a regular employee, performing services as a sports official for an entity sponsoring an intercollegiate or interscholastic sports event, or any person performing services as a sports official for a public agency, public entity, or a private nonprofit organization, which public agency, public entity, or private nonprofit organization sponsors an amateur sports event. For purposes of this subdivision, “sports official” includes an umpire, referee, judge, scorekeeper, timekeeper, or other person who is a neutral participant in a sports event.

(15) A person who is an owner-builder, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 50692 of the Health and Safety Code, who is participating in a mutual self-help housing program, as defined in Section 50087 of the Health and Safety Code, sponsored by a nonprofit corporation.

(16) (A) (i) An officer or member of the board of directors, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 3351, if he or she owns at least 10 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of the corporation, or at least 1 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of the corporation if that officer’s or member’s parent, grandparent, sibling, spouse, or child owns at least 10 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of the corporation and that officer or member is covered by a health insurance policy or a health care service plan, and executes a written waiver of his or her rights under this chapter stating under penalty of perjury that the person is a qualifying officer or director. The waiver shall be effective upon the date of receipt and acceptance by the corporation’s insurance carrier. The insurance carrier, with the consent of the individual executing the waiver, may elect to backdate the acceptance of the waiver up to 15 days prior to the date of receipt of the waiver. The insurance carrier, insurance agent, or insurance broker is not required to investigate, verify, or confirm the accuracy of the facts contained in the waiver. There is a conclusive presumption that a person who executes a waiver pursuant to this subdivision is not covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

(ii) A written waiver that is executed pursuant to this subparagraph, including, but not limited to, a written waiver that was executed prior to January 1, 2017, and is accepted by the insurance carrier on or before December 31, 2017, may be deemed to be accepted by the insurance carrier as of January 1, 2017. The written waiver shall remain in effect until the officer or member of the board of directors provides the corporation’s insurance carrier with a written withdrawal of the waiver.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an officer or director of a private corporation who is the sole shareholder of the private corporation, unless the officer, director, or private corporation has elected to be subject to liability for workers’ compensation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4151.

(17) (A) An individual who is a general partner of a partnership or a managing member of a limited liability company who executes a written waiver of his or her rights under this chapter stating under penalty of perjury that the person is a qualifying general partner or managing member. The waiver shall be effective upon the date of receipt and acceptance by the partnership’s or limited liability company’s insurance carrier. The insurance carrier, with the consent of the individual executing the waiver, may elect to backdate the acceptance of the waiver up to 15 days prior to the date of receipt of the waiver. The insurance carrier, insurance agent, or insurance broker is not required to investigate, verify, or confirm the accuracy of the facts contained in the waiver. There is a conclusive presumption that a person who executes a waiver pursuant to this subdivision is not covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

(B) A written waiver that is executed pursuant to this paragraph, including, but not limited to, a written waiver that was executed prior to January 1, 2017, and is accepted by the insurance carrier on or before December 31, 2017, may be deemed to be accepted by the insurance carrier as of January 1, 2017. The written waiver shall remain in effect until the general partner provides the partnership’s insurance carrier or the managing member provides the limited liability company’s insurance carrier with a written withdrawal of the waiver.

(18) (A) (i) An owner of a professional corporation, as defined in Section 13401 of the Corporations Code, who is a practitioner rendering the professional services for which the professional corporation is organized and who executes a document, in writing and under penalty of perjury, both waiving his or her rights under this chapter and stating that he or she is covered by a health insurance policy or a health care service plan. The owner shall provide a copy of the waiver to all other owners of the professional corporation and the professional corporation shall keep a copy of the waiver on file. The waiver is effective upon the date of receipt and acceptance by the professional corporation’s insurance carrier. The insurance carrier, with the consent of the individual executing the waiver, may elect to backdate the acceptance of the waiver up to 15 days prior to the date of receipt of the waiver. The insurance carrier, insurance agent, or insurance broker is not required to investigate, verify, or confirm the accuracy of the facts contained in the waiver. There is a conclusive presumption that a person who executes a waiver pursuant to this subdivision is not covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

(ii) A written waiver that is executed pursuant to this subparagraph and is accepted by the insurance carrier on or before December 31, 2017, may be deemed to be accepted by the insurance carrier as of January 1, 2017. The written waiver shall remain in effect until the owner provides the professional corporation’s insurance carrier with a written withdrawal of the waiver.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an owner of a private professional corporation who is the sole shareholder of the private professional corporation, unless the owner or private professional corporation has elected to be subject to liability for workers’ compensation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4151.

(19) (A) (i) An officer or member of the board of directors of a cooperative corporation organized pursuant to the Cooperative Corporation Law, as set forth in Part 2 (commencing with Section 12200) of Division 3 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, who executes a document, in writing and under penalty of perjury, both waiving his or her rights under this chapter and stating that he or she is covered by both a health care service plan or health insurance policy, and a disability insurance policy that is comparable in scope and coverage, as determined by the Insurance Commissioner, to a workers’ compensation policy. The officer or member of the board of directors shall provide a copy of the waiver to all other officers and members of the board of directors of the cooperative corporation, and the cooperative corporation shall keep a copy of the waiver on file. The waiver is effective upon the date of receipt and acceptance by the cooperative corporation’s insurance carrier. The insurance carrier, with the consent of the individual executing the waiver, may elect to backdate the acceptance of the waiver up to 15 days prior to the date of receipt of the waiver. The insurance carrier, insurance agent, or insurance broker is not required to investigate, verify, or confirm the accuracy of the facts contained in the waiver. There is a conclusive presumption that a person who executes a waiver pursuant to this subdivision is not covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

(ii) A written waiver that is executed pursuant to this subparagraph and is accepted by the insurance carrier on or before December 31, 2017, may be deemed to be accepted by the insurance carrier as of January 1, 2017. The written waiver shall remain in effect until the officer or member of the board provides the cooperative corporation’s insurance carrier with a written withdrawal of the waiver.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an officer or director of a private cooperative corporation who is the sole shareholder of the private cooperative corporation, unless the officer, director, or private cooperative corporation has elected to be subject to liability for workers’ compensation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4151.

(b) (1) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2018.

(2) A policy or contract that is entered into or renewed in compliance with this section is subject to this section as it read on the date that the policy or contract was entered into or renewed.

(Repealed (in Sec. 3) and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 770, Sec. 4. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2018. Section operative July 1, 2018, by its own provisions.)

Section 3352.94§Sections

“Employee” excludes a disaster service worker while performing services as a disaster service worker except as provided in Chapter 10 of this part. “Employee” excludes any unregistered person performing like services as a disaster service worker without pay or other consideration, except as provided by Section 3211.92 of this code.

(Amended by Stats. 1951, Ch. 1440.)

Section 3353§Sections

“Independent contractor” means any person who renders service for a specified recompense for a specified result, under the control of his principal as to the result of his work only and not as to the means by which such result is accomplished.

(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

Section 3354§Sections

Employers of employees defined by subdivision (d) of Section 3351 shall not be subject to the provisions of Sections 3710, 3710.1, 3710.2, 3711, 3712, and 3722, or any other penalty provided by law, for failure to secure the payment of compensation for such employees.

This section shall not apply to employers of employees specified in subdivision (b) of Section 3715, with respect to such employees.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 17.)

Section 3355§Sections

As used in subdivision (d) of Section 3351, the term “course of trade, business, profession, or occupation” includes all services tending toward the preservation, maintenance, or operation of the business, business premises, or business property of the employer.

(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 17.)

Section 3356§Sections

As used in subdivision (d) of Section 3351 and in Section 3355, the term “trade, business, profession, or occupation” includes any undertaking actually engaged in by the employer with some degree of regularity, irrespective of the trade name, articles of incorporation, or principal business of the employer.

(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 17.)

Section 3357§Sections

Any person rendering service for another, other than as an independent contractor, or unless expressly excluded herein, is presumed to be an employee.

(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

Section 3358§Sections

Watchmen for nonindustrial establishments, paid by subscription by several persons, are not employees under this division. In other cases where watchmen, paid by subscription by several persons, have at the time of the injury sustained by them taken out and maintained in force insurance upon themselves as self-employing persons, conferring benefits equal to those conferred by this division, the employer is not liable under this division.

(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

Section 3360§Sections

Workmen associating themselves under a partnership agreement, the principal purpose of which is the performance of the labor on a particular piece of work are employees of the person having such work executed. In respect to injuries which occur while such workmen maintain in force insurance in an insurer, insuring to themselves and all persons employed by them benefits identical with those conferred by this division the person for whom such work is to be done is not liable as an employer under this division.

(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

Section 3361§Sections

Each member registered as an active firefighting member of any regularly organized volunteer fire department, having official recognition, and full or partial support of the government of the county, city, town, or district in which the volunteer fire department is located, is an employee of that county, city, town, or district for the purposes of this division, and is entitled to receive compensation from the county, city, town or district in accordance with the provisions thereof.

(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 114, Sec. 3.)

Section 3361.5§Sections

Notwithstanding Section 3351, a volunteer, unsalaried person authorized by the governing board of a recreation and park district to perform volunteer services for the district shall, upon the adoption of a resolution of the governing board of the district so declaring, be deemed an employee of the district for the purposes of this division and shall be entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits provided by this division for any injury sustained by him or her while engaged in the performance of any service under the direction and control of the governing board of the recreation and park district.

(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 454, Sec. 134.)

Section 3362§Sections

Each male or female member registered as an active policeman or policewoman of any regularly organized police department having official recognition and full or partial support of the government of the county, city, town or district in which such police department is located, shall, upon the adoption of a resolution by the governing body of the county, city, town or district so declaring, be deemed an employee of such county, city, town or district for the purpose of this division and shall be entitled to receive compensation from such county, city, town or district in accordance with the provisions thereof.

(Added by Stats. 1959, Ch. 1650.)

Section 3362.5§Sections

Whenever any qualified person is deputized or appointed by the proper authority as a reserve or auxiliary sheriff or city police officer, a deputy sheriff, or a reserve police officer of a regional park district or a transit district, and is assigned specific police functions by that authority, the person is an employee of the county, city, city and county, town, or district for the purposes of this division while performing duties as a peace officer if the person is not performing services as a disaster service worker for purposes of Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 4351).

(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 892, Sec. 25.5.)

Section 3363§Sections

Each member registered with the Department of Fish and Game as an active member of the reserve fish and game warden program of the department is an employee of the department for the purposes of this division, and is entitled to receive compensation from the department in accordance with the provisions thereof.

(Added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1394.)

Section 3363.5§Sections

(a) Notwithstanding Sections 3351, 3352, and 3357, a person who performs voluntary service without pay for a public agency, as designated and authorized by the governing body of the agency or its designee, shall, upon adoption of a resolution by the governing body of the agency so declaring, be deemed to be an employee of the agency for purposes of this division while performing such service.

(b) For purposes of this section, “voluntary service without pay” shall include services performed by any person, who receives no remuneration other than meals, transportation, lodging, or reimbursement for incidental expenses.

(Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 76.)

Section 3363.6§Sections

(a) Notwithstanding Sections 3351, 3352, and 3357, a person who performs voluntary service without pay for a private, nonprofit organization, as designated and authorized by the board of directors of the organization, shall, when the board of directors of the organization, in its sole discretion, so declares in writing and prior to the injury, be deemed an employee of the organization for purposes of this division while performing such service.

(b) For purposes of this section, “voluntary service without pay” shall include the performance of services by a parent, without remuneration in cash, when rendered to a cooperative parent participation nursery school if such service is required as a condition of participation in the organization.

(c) For purposes of this section, “voluntary service without pay” shall include the performance of services by a person who receives no remuneration other than meals, transportation, lodging, or reimbursement for incidental expenses.

(Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 76.)

Section 3364§Sections

Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 3352, a volunteer, unsalaried member of a sheriff’s reserve in any county who is not deemed an employee of the county under Section 3362.5, shall, upon the adoption of a resolution of the board of supervisors declaring that the member is deemed an employee of the county for the purposes of this division, be entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits provided by this division for any injury sustained by him or her while engaged in the performance of any active law enforcement service under the direction and control of the sheriff.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 770, Sec. 5. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Section 3364.5§Sections

Notwithstanding Section 3351 of the Labor Code, a volunteer, unsalaried person authorized by the governing board of a school district or the county superintendent of schools to perform volunteer services for the school district or the county superintendent shall, upon the adoption of a resolution of the governing board of the school district or the county board of education so declaring, be deemed an employee of the district or the county superintendent for the purposes of this division and shall be entitled to the workmen’s compensation benefits provided by this division for any injury sustained by him while engaged in the performance of any service under the direction and control of the governing board of the school district or the county superintendent.

(Amended by Stats. 1968, Ch. 1146.)

Section 3364.55§Sections

A ward of the juvenile court engaged in rehabilitative work without pay, under an assignment by order of the juvenile court to a work project on public property within the jurisdiction of any governmental entity, including the federal government, shall, upon the adoption of a resolution of the board of supervisors declaring that such ward is deemed an employee of the county for purposes of this division, be entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits provided by this division for injury sustained while in the performance of such assigned work project, provided:

(a) That such ward shall not be entitled to any temporary disability indemnity benefits.

(b) That in determining permanent disability benefits, average weekly earnings shall be taken at the minimum provided therefor in Section 4453.

(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1347.)

Section 3364.6§Sections

Notwithstanding Sections 3351 and 3352, juvenile traffic offenders pursuant to Section 564 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or juvenile probationers pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 725 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, engaged in rehabilitative work without pay, under an assignment by order of the juvenile court to a work project on public property within the jurisdiction of any governmental entity, including the federal government, shall, upon the adoption of a resolution of the board of supervisors declaring that such traffic offenders or probationers, or both such groups, shall be deemed employees of the county for purposes of this division, be entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits provided by this division for injury sustained while in the performance of such assigned work project, provided:

(a) That such traffic offender or probationer shall not be entitled to any temporary disability indemnity benefits.

(b) That in determining permanent disability benefits, average weekly earnings shall be taken at the minimum provided therefor in Section 4453.

(Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 428.)

Section 3364.7§Sections

Notwithstanding Sections 3351 and 3352, a ward of the juvenile court committed to a regional youth educational facility pursuant to Article 24.5 (commencing with Section 894), engaged in rehabilitative work without pay on public property within the jurisdiction of any governmental entity, including the federal government, shall, upon the adoption of a resolution of the board of supervisors declaring that such wards shall be deemed employees of the county for purposes of this division, be entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits provided by this division for injury sustained while in the performance of such public work project, provided:

(a) That the ward shall not be entitled to any disability indemnity benefits.

(b) That in determining permanent disability benefits, average weekly earnings shall be taken at the minimum provided therefor in Section 4453.

(Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1455, Sec. 4. Effective September 26, 1984.)

Section 3365§Sections

For the purposes of this division:

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), each person engaged in suppressing a fire pursuant to Section 4153 or 4436 of the Public Resources Code, and each person (other than an independent contractor or an employee of an independent contractor) engaged in suppressing a fire at the request of a public officer or employee charged with the duty of preventing or suppressing fires, is deemed, except when the entity is the United States or an agency thereof, to be an employee of the public entity that he is serving or assisting in the suppression of the fire, and is entitled to receive compensation from such public entity in accordance with the provisions of this division. When the entity being served is the United States or an agency thereof, the State Department of Corrections shall be deemed the employer and the cost of workers’ compensation may be considered in fixing the reimbursement paid by the United States for the service of prisoners. A person is engaged in suppressing a fire only during the period he (1) is actually fighting the fire, (2) is being transported to or from the fire, or (3) is engaged in training exercises for fire suppression.

(b) A member of the armed forces of the United States while serving under military command in suppressing a fire is not an employee of a public entity.

(c) Neither a person who contracts to furnish aircraft with pilots to a public entity for fire prevention or suppression service, nor his employees, shall be deemed to be employees of the public entity; but a person who contracts to furnish aircraft to a public entity for fire prevention or suppression service and to pilot the aircraft himself shall be deemed to be an employee of the public entity.

(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1347.)

Section 3366§Sections

(a) For the purposes of this division, each person engaged in the performance of active law enforcement service as part of the posse comitatus or power of the county, and each person (other than an independent contractor or an employee of an independent contractor) engaged in assisting any peace officer in active law enforcement service at the request of such peace officer, is deemed to be an employee of the public entity that he or she is serving or assisting in the enforcement of the law, and is entitled to receive compensation from the public entity in accordance with the provisions of this division.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide workers’ compensation benefits to a person who is any of the following:

(1) A law enforcement officer who is regularly employed by a local or state law enforcement agency in an adjoining state and who is deputized to work under the supervision of a California peace officer pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 832.6 of the Penal Code.

(2) A law enforcement officer who is regularly employed by the Oregon State Police, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, or the Arizona Department of Public Safety and who is acting as a peace officer in this state pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 830.32 of the Penal Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 594, Sec. 3.)

Section 3367§Sections

(a) For purposes of this division any person voluntarily rendering technical assistance to a public entity to prevent a fire, explosion, or other hazardous occurrence, at the request of a duly authorized fire or law enforcement officer of that public entity is deemed an employee of the public entity to whom the technical assistance was rendered, and is entitled to receive compensation benefits in accordance with the provisions of this division. Rendering technical assistance shall include the time that person is traveling to, or returning from, the location of the potentially hazardous condition for which he or she has been requested to volunteer his or her assistance.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide workers’ compensation benefits to a person who is any of the following:

(1) A law enforcement officer who is regularly employed by a local or state law enforcement agency in an adjoining state and who is deputized to work under the supervision of a California peace officer pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 832.6 of the Penal Code.

(2) A law enforcement officer who is regularly employed by the Oregon State Police, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, or the Arizona Department of Public Safety and who is acting as a peace officer in this state pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 830.32 of the Penal Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 594, Sec. 4.)

Section 3368§Sections

Notwithstanding any provision of this code or the Education Code to the contrary, the school district, county superintendent of schools, or any school administered by the State Department of Education under whose supervision work experience education, cooperative vocational education, or community classrooms, as defined by regulations adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or student apprenticeship programs registered by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards for registered student apprentices, are provided, shall be considered the employer under Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of persons receiving this training unless the persons during the training are being paid a cash wage or salary by a private employer. However, in the case of students being paid a cash wage or salary by a private employer in supervised work experience education or cooperative vocational education, or in the case of registered student apprentices, the school district, county superintendent of schools, or any school administered by the State Department of Education may elect to provide workers’ compensation coverage, unless the person or firm under whom the persons are receiving work experience or occupational training elects to provide workers’ compensation coverage. If the school district or other educational agency elects to provide workers’ compensation coverage for students being paid a cash wage or salary by a private employer in supervised work experience education or cooperative vocational education, it may only be for a transitional period not to exceed three months. A registered student apprentice is a registered apprentice who is (1) at least 16 years of age, (2) a full-time high school student in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, and (3) in an apprenticeship program for registered student apprentices registered with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. An apprentice, while attending related and supplemental instruction classes, shall be considered to be in the employ of the apprentice’s employer and not subject to this section, unless the apprentice is unemployed. Whenever this work experience education, cooperative vocational education, community classroom education, or student apprenticeship program registered by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards for registered student apprentices, is under the supervision of a regional occupational center or program operated by two or more school districts pursuant to Section 52301 of the Education Code, the district of residence of the persons receiving the training shall be deemed the employer for the purposes of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 541, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)

Section 3369§Sections

The inclusion of any person or groups of persons within the coverage of this division shall not cause any such person or group of persons to be within the coverage of any other statute unless any other such statute expressly so provides.

(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 966.)

Section 3370§Sections

(a) Each inmate of a state penal or correctional institution shall be entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits provided by this division for injury arising out of and in the course of assigned employment and for the death of the inmate if the injury proximately causes death, subject to all of the following conditions:

(1) The inmate was not injured as the result of an assault in which the inmate was the initial aggressor, or as the result of the intentional act of the inmate injuring himself or herself.

(2) The inmate shall not be entitled to any temporary disability indemnity benefits while incarcerated in a state prison.

(3) No benefits shall be paid to an inmate while he or she is incarcerated. The period of benefit payment shall instead commence upon release from incarceration. If an inmate who has been released from incarceration, and has been receiving benefits under this section, is reincarcerated in a city or county jail, or state penal or correctional institution, the benefits shall cease immediately upon the inmate’s reincarceration and shall not be paid for the duration of the reincarceration.

(4) This section shall not be construed to provide for the payment to an inmate, upon release from incarceration, of temporary disability benefits which were not paid due to the prohibition of paragraph (2).

(5) In determining temporary and permanent disability indemnity benefits for the inmate, the average weekly earnings shall be taken at not more than the minimum amount set forth in Section 4453.

(6) Where a dispute exists respecting an inmate’s rights to the workers’ compensation benefits provided herein, the inmate may file an application with the appeals board to resolve the dispute. The application may be filed at any time during the inmate’s incarceration.

(7) After release or discharge from a correctional institution, the former inmate shall have one year in which to file an original application with the appeals board, unless the time of injury is such that it would allow more time under Section 5804 of the Labor Code.

(8) The percentage of disability to total disability shall be determined as for the occupation of a laborer of like age by applying the schedule for the determination of the percentages of permanent disabilities prepared and adopted by the administrative director.

(9) This division shall be the exclusive remedy against the state for injuries occurring while engaged in assigned work or work under contract. Nothing in this division shall affect any right or remedy of an injured inmate for injuries not compensated by this division.

(b) The Department of Corrections shall present to each inmate of a state penal or correctional institution, prior to his or her first assignment to work at the institution, a printed statement of his or her rights under this division, and a description of procedures to be followed in filing for benefits under this section. The statement shall be approved by the administrative director and be posted in a conspicuous place at each place where an inmate works.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, the Department of Corrections shall have medical control over treatment provided an injured inmate while incarcerated in a state prison, except, that in serious cases, the inmate is entitled, upon request, to the services of a consulting physician.

(d) Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subdivision (a) shall also be applicable to an inmate of a state penal or correctional institution who would otherwise be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits based on an injury sustained prior to his or her incarceration. However, temporary and permanent disability benefits which, except for this subdivision, would otherwise be payable to an inmate during incarceration based on an injury sustained prior to incarceration shall be paid to the dependents of the inmate. If the inmate has no dependents, the temporary disability benefits which, except for this subdivision, would otherwise be payable during the inmate’s incarceration shall be paid to the State Treasury to the credit of the Uninsured Employers Fund, and the permanent disability benefits which would otherwise be payable during the inmate’s incarceration shall be held in trust for the inmate by the Department of Corrections during the period of incarceration.

For purposes of this subdivision, “dependents” means the inmate’s spouse or children, including an inmate’s former spouse due to divorce and the inmate’s children from that marriage.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, an employee who is an inmate, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 3351 who is eligible for vocational rehabilitation services as defined in Section 4635 shall only be eligible for direct placement services.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 497, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1995.)

Section 3370.1§Sections

(a) Each patient in a State Department of State Hospital facility shall be entitled to the workers’ compensation benefits provided by this division for injury arising out of and in the course of a vocational rehabilitation program work assignment, including a sheltered workshop work assignment, and for the death of the patient if the injury proximately causes death, subject to all of the following conditions:

(1) The patient was not injured as the result of an assault in which the patient was the initial aggressor, or as the result of the intentional act of the patient injuring themselves.

(2) The patient shall not be entitled to any temporary disability indemnity benefits while committed in a state hospital facility or reincarcerated in a city or county jail or state penal or correctional institution.

(3) Benefits shall not be paid to a patient while the patient is committed in a state hospital facility. The period of benefit payment shall instead commence upon release from a state hospital. If a patient who has been released from a state hospital facility, and has been receiving benefits under this section, is recommitted to a state hospital facility, a jail-based competency treatment program, an Admission, Evaluation, and Stabilization (AES) Center, or any other program considered to be a facility of the State Department of State Hospitals under Section 4100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or if the patient is reincarcerated in a city or county jail or state penal or correctional institution, the benefits shall cease immediately upon the patient’s recommitment or reincarceration and shall not be paid for the duration of the recommitment or reincarceration.

(4) This section shall not be construed to provide for the payment to a patient, upon release from a state hospital facility, a jail-based competency treatment program, an Admission, Evaluation, and Stabilization (AES) Center, or any other program considered to be a facility of the State Department of State Hospitals under Section 4100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or upon release from incarceration, of temporary disability benefits that were not paid due to the prohibition of paragraph (2).

(5) In determining temporary and permanent disability indemnity benefits for the patient, the average weekly earnings shall be taken at not more than the minimum amount set forth in Section 4453.

(6) If a dispute exists respecting a patient’s rights to the workers’ compensation benefits provided herein, the patient may file an application with the workers’ compensation appeals board to resolve the dispute. The application may be filed at any time during the patient’s commitment at a state hospital facility.

(7) After release or discharge from a state hospital facility, the former patient shall have one year in which to file an original application with the workers’ compensation appeals board, unless the time of injury is such that it would allow more time under Section 5804.

(8) The percentage of disability to total disability shall be determined as for the occupation of a laborer of like age by applying the schedule for the determination of the percentages of permanent disabilities prepared and adopted by the administrative director.

(9) This division shall be the exclusive remedy against the state for injuries occurring while engaged in a vocational rehabilitation program. Nothing in this division shall affect any other right or remedy of an injured patient resulting from injuries not compensated by this division.

(b) The State Department of State Hospitals shall present to each patient worker, prior to their first vocational rehabilitation assignment, a printed statement of their rights under this division, and a description of procedures to be followed in filing for benefits under this section. The statement shall be approved by the Director of State Hospitals or their designee and shall be posted in various conspicuous locations where patients work or reside.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, the State Department of State Hospitals shall provide medical care for its patients, which may include medical services at an outside facility.

(d) (1) Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subdivision (a) shall also be applicable to a patient who would otherwise be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits based on an injury sustained prior to their commitment to a state hospital facility. However, temporary and permanent disability benefits which, except for this subdivision, would otherwise be payable to a patient based on an injury sustained prior to commitment to a state hospital facility, a jail-based competency treatment program, an Admission, Evaluation, and Stabilization (AES) Center, or any other program considered to be a facility of the State Department of State Hospitals under Section 4100 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall be paid to the dependents of the patient. If the patient has no dependents, the temporary disability benefits which, except for this subdivision, would otherwise be payable during the patient’s commitment shall be paid to the State Treasury to the credit of the Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund, and the permanent disability benefits that would otherwise be payable during the patient’s commitment shall be held in trust for the patient by the State Department of State Hospitals during the period of commitment.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “dependents” means the patient’s spouse or children, including a patient’s former spouse due to divorce and the patient’s children from that marriage.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, a patient who is an employee, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 3351, is eligible for supplemental job displacement benefits as defined in Section 4658.7.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 38, Sec. 34. (SB 78) Effective June 27, 2019.)

Section 3371§Sections

If the issues are complex or if the inmate applicant requests, the Department of Corrections shall furnish a list of qualified workers’ compensation attorneys to permit the inmate applicant to choose an attorney to represent him or her before the appeals board.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 497, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1995.)

Section 3371.1§Sections

If the issues are complex or if the patient applicant requests, the State Department of State Hospitals shall furnish a list of qualified workers’ compensation attorneys to permit the patient applicant to choose an attorney to represent them before the workers’ compensation appeals board.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 38, Sec. 35. (SB 78) Effective June 27, 2019.)

Section 3501§Sections

(a) A child under the age of 18 years, or a child of any age found by any trier of fact, whether contractual, administrative, regulatory, or judicial, to be physically or mentally incapacitated from earning, shall be conclusively presumed to be wholly dependent for support upon a deceased employee-parent with whom that child is living at the time of injury resulting in death of the parent or for whose maintenance the parent was legally liable at the time of injury resulting in death of the parent.

(b) A spouse to whom a deceased employee is married at the time of death shall be conclusively presumed to be wholly dependent for support upon the deceased employee if the surviving spouse earned thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) or less in the twelve months immediately preceding the death.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 786, Sec. 1. (AB 607) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Section 3502§Sections

In all other cases, questions of entire or partial dependency and questions as to who are dependents and the extent of their dependency shall be determined in accordance with the facts as they exist at the time of the injury of the employee.

(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)

Section 3503§Sections

No person is a dependent of any deceased employee unless in good faith a member of the family or household of the employee, or unless the person bears to the employee the relation of spouse, child, posthumous child, adopted child or stepchild, grandchild, father or mother, father-in-law or mother-in-law, grandfather or grandmother, brother or sister, uncle or aunt, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, or nephew or niece.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 63. (SB 1005) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section 3550§Sections

(a) Every employer subject to the compensation provisions of this division shall post and keep posted in a conspicuous location frequented by employees, and where the notice may be easily read by employees during the hours of the workday, a notice that states the name of the current compensation insurance carrier of the employer, or when appropriate, that the employer is self-insured, and who is responsible for claims adjustment.

(b) Failure to keep any notice required by this section conspicuously posted shall constitute a misdemeanor, and shall be prima facie evidence of noninsurance.

(c) This section shall not apply with respect to the employment of employees as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3351.

(d) The form and content of the notice required by this section shall be prescribed by the administrative director, after consultation with the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation, and shall advise employees that all injuries should be reported to their employer. The notice shall be easily understandable. It shall be posted in both English and Spanish where there are Spanish-speaking employees. The notice shall include the following information:

(1) How to get emergency medical treatment, if needed.

(2) The kinds of events, injuries, and illnesses covered by workers’ compensation.

(3) The injured employee’s right to receive medical care.

(4) The injured employee may consult a licensed attorney to advise them of their rights under workers’ compensations laws. In most instances, attorney’s fees will be paid from an injured employee’s recovery.

(5) The rights of the employee to select and change the treating physician pursuant to the provisions of Section 4600.

(6) The rights of the employee to receive temporary disability indemnity, permanent disability indemnity, supplemental job displacement, and death benefits, as appropriate.

(7) To whom injuries should be reported.

(8) The existence of time limits for the employer to be notified of an occupational injury.

(9) The protections against discrimination provided pursuant to Section 132a.

(10) The internet website address and contact information that employees may use to obtain further information about the workers’ compensation claims process and an injured employee’s rights and obligations, including the location and telephone number of the nearest information and assistance officer.

(e) Failure of an employer to provide the notice required by this section shall automatically permit the employee to be treated by their personal physician with respect to an injury occurring during that failure.

(f) The form and content of the notice required to be posted by this section shall be made available to self-insured employers and insurers by the administrative director. Insurers shall provide this notice to each of their policyholders, with advice concerning the requirements of this section and the penalties for a failure to post this notice.

(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 87, Sec. 1. (AB 1870) Effective January 1, 2025.)

Section 3551§Sections

(a) Every employer subject to the compensation provisions of this code, except employers of employees defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3351, shall give every new employee, either at the time the employee is hired or by the end of the first pay period, written notice of the information contained in Section 3550. The content of the notice required by this section shall be prescribed by the administrative director after consultation with the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation.

(b) The notice required by this section shall be easily understandable and available in both English and Spanish. In addition to the information contained in Section 3550, the content of the notice required by this section shall include:

(1) Generally, how to obtain appropriate medical care for a job injury.

(2) The role and function of the primary treating physician.

(3) A form that the employee may use as an optional method for notifying the employer of the name of the employee’s “personal physician,” as defined by Section 4600, or “personal chiropractor,” as defined by Section 4601.

(c) The content of the notice required by this section shall be made available to employers and insurers by the administrative director. Insurers shall provide this notice to each of their policyholders, with advice concerning the requirements of this section and the penalties for a failure to provide this notice to all employees.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 6, Sec. 45. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Section 3553§Sections

Every employer subject to the compensation provisions of this code shall give any employee who is a victim of a crime that occurred at the employee’s place of employment written notice that the employee is eligible for workers’ compensation for injuries, including psychiatric injuries, that may have resulted from the place of employment crime. The employer shall provide this notice, either personally or by first-class mail, within one working day of the place of employment crime, or within one working day of the date the employer reasonably should have known of the crime.

(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 527, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1998.)