There is no question that the game of basketball is dangerous and NBA players get injured on the job. NBA athletes are not merely players, they are also employees and their employers are now trying to take away their collectively bargained right to Workers Compensation Benefits in California. It is not right, and it sets a dangerous precedent.
AB 1309 singles out one group of workers, professional athletes, and treats them differently than other employees by denying them the right to file for California Workers Compensation benefits. AB1309 is an attempt by the insurance companies and professional teams to shift the cost of care for injured players from themselves to state agencies like Medi-Cal and federal agencies like Medicare.