Workers' compensation: average annual earnings.

Removed the automatic annual adjustment mechanism that would have increased the permanent partial disability earnings limits (for injuries on or after January 1, 2014) by the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment each January 1 starting in 2026. This eliminated a recurring formula-based increase tied to federal Social Security COLA.

Set specific fixed dollar amounts for permanent partial disability average weekly earnings limits for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2027: not less than $363 and not more than $658. These replace blank placeholders that were in the Senate version.

Restructured paragraph (9) of the permanent partial disability limits section by removing subparagraph (B) (the COLA adjustment provision) and adding a new paragraph (10) with the 2027-specific amounts. The base $240-$435 limits for injuries on or after January 1, 2014 remain unchanged in paragraph (9).

New paragraph (10) added to subdivision (b) of Section 4453 setting minimum and maximum average weekly earnings limits for permanent partial disability indemnity calculations for injuries on or after January 1, 2027. Dollar amounts are left blank pending final determination.

Bill summary updated to reference the new 2027 earnings limits for permanent partial disability indemnity.

Minor wording cleanup in subdivision (c)(4): removed redundant 'his or her' before 'actual earnings from all sources and employments.'

Amendment date updated from April 1, 2025 to January 22, 2026, with the earlier date retained as a secondary line.

Senator Laird added as coauthor alongside Senator Caballero.

Page numbering changed from 99 to 98 throughout, causing line numbers to shift. No substantive policy content was altered.

A typo was introduced in subdivision (c)(4): 'at the time of his or her injury' was changed to 'at the time of his or her the injury,' which is grammatically incorrect and likely unintentional.