AB-2098 • 2026

Workers’ compensation: medical treatment.

Crime Education Healthcare Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Kalra
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about potential costs or administrative burdens on employers.

Workers' Compensation: Medical Treatment

AB-2098 requires employees to schedule medical treatment outside of work hours when possible and mandates employers to provide leave during work hours for such treatments unless there is a business necessity preventing it.

What This Bill Does

Requires workers who need medical treatment due to workplace injuries to try scheduling these appointments outside their regular working hours if possible.
If an employee needs treatment during work hours and the timing of the treatment can be predicted, they must notify their employer.
Employers are required to provide leave for employees to attend scheduled treatments during work hours unless there is a business necessity that requires the treatment at another time or day.
The bill ensures that any leave taken under this law overlaps with other types of leave like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if applicable.
It makes it illegal for employers to punish employees who request or take leave for medical treatments related to workplace injuries.

Who It Names or Affects

Employees who need medical treatment due to workplace injuries
Employers of workers needing such medical treatment

Terms To Know

Workers' Compensation: A system that provides benefits for employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job.
Business Necessity: A situation where an employer can reasonably argue that scheduling changes to work hours are necessary due to operational needs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the timing of treatment is unforeseeable.
It is unclear how employers will determine when a business necessity truly exists for rescheduling medical treatments.

Bill History

2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-10 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on INS.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on INS.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2098, as amended, Kalra.
Workers’ compensation: medical treatment.
Existing law establishes a workers’ compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation, to compensate an employee, as defined, for injuries that arise out of, and in the course of, employment. Existing law requires employers to provide medical, surgical, chiropractic, acupuncture, licensed clinical social worker, and hospital treatment reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the injury.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to discharge, threaten to discharge, or discriminate against, or for an insurer to advise, direct, or threaten an insured to discharge, an employee because they have filed or made known their intention to file a claim for compensation, or an application for adjudication, or because the employee has received a rating,
award, or settlement, as specified.
This bill would require an employee, when possible, to make a reasonable effort to schedule treatment outside of work hours. The bill would require the
employee
employee, if the timing of the treatment is foreseeable,
to provide notice if treatment occurs during work hours, as specified, and require the employer to provide this leave during work hours unless business necessity requires the treatment to occur at a different time or on a different day. The bill would require that the leave taken by an employee pursuant to these provisions run concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the California Family Rights Act if the employee would have been eligible for that leave. If an employer
denies an employee’s request to attend scheduled
treatment during regular work hours,
treatment, and the employer knows or should know that a business necessity does not require the treatment to occur at a different time or on a different day,
the bill would make that denial a
violation of the misdemeanor described above.
misdemeanor. The bill would also make it a misdemeanor for an employer to discharge, threaten to discharge, or discriminate against an employee because the employee requested or took leave pursuant to these provisions.
By
expanding the scope of a crime,
creating new crimes,
this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would make other conforming changes.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF