Plain English Breakdown
The official text lists many specific boards but does not provide a simple list of all covered professions; the summary groups them by field based on board names.
AB-2140: Higher Minimum Fines for Not Reporting Medical Claims
This bill raises the minimum fine from $50 to $100 for licensed healthcare workers, claimants, or their lawyers who fail to report certain legal settlements involving professionals without liability insurance.
What This Bill Does
- Increases the minimum penalty from $50 to $100 for failing to report a settlement, judgment, or arbitration award over $3,000 against many medical and healing arts licensees who do not have professional liability insurance for that claim.
- Increases the minimum penalty from $50 to $100 for failing to report a similar amount over $10,000 involving marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or professional clinical counselors without professional liability insurance for that claim.
- Keeps the maximum fine at $500 while only changing the lowest required payment.
Who It Names or Affects
- Licensed professionals in fields such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, psychology, and therapy who do not have insurance covering a specific claim involving negligence or unauthorized services.
- Claimants (people filing lawsuits) or their lawyers involved in these cases if they fail to file the required reports.
Terms To Know
- Claimant
- The person who files a lawsuit or makes a legal demand for money due to injury, death, or professional negligence.
- Arbitration award
- A decision made by an outside party that settles a dispute without going to court, often including payment of damages.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill only changes the minimum fine amount and does not alter the maximum fine or other reporting rules.
- This summary is based on text describing what existing law says and how this bill would change it, but final effective dates are not listed in the source.