CA AB1170

Exempts agricultural employers from standard workers' compensation insurance requirements and creates a 36-month pilot program called the Care of Agricultural Workers program.

Establishes the Care of Agricultural Workers Fund, continuously appropriated to contract with a licensed health care service plan to provide medical, surgical, and hospital treatment for occupational and nonoccupational injuries and illnesses for agricultural workers without deductibles or copayments.

Requires agricultural employers to deposit funds into the Care of Agricultural Workers Fund based on their historical workers' compensation premiums and medical expenses from fiscal years 2011-12 through 2013-14, allocated according to number of workers employed.

Mandates employers participating in the pilot program make health plan coverage available to employees' dependents for nonindustrial injuries and illnesses, though employers are not required to pay for dependent coverage.

Requires the Administrative Director to report to the Legislature after the second year of the pilot program and upon completion, and to continuously monitor fund sufficiency to support the program.