CA SB189

Expands workers' compensation exemptions for corporate officers and board members from 15% stock ownership requirement to 10% ownership, or 1% if a family member owns at least 10% and the person has health insurance coverage.

Adds new exemption categories for professional corporation owners and cooperative corporation officers who execute written waivers and maintain health insurance or comparable disability coverage.

Includes persons holding power to revoke trusts containing corporate shares or partnership/LLC interests in the employee definition, with ability to elect exemption if other criteria are met.

Prohibits insurance carriers from investigating, verifying, or confirming waiver accuracy and creates conclusive presumption that persons executing valid waivers are not covered by workers' compensation.

Effective July 1, 2018, with provisions allowing backdating of waiver acceptance up to 15 days and retroactive application to waivers executed before January 1, 2017 if accepted by December 31, 2017.