4904
. (a) If notice is given in writing to the insurer, or to the
employer if uninsured, setting forth the nature and extent of any
claim that is allowable as a lien in favor of the Employment
Development Department, the claim is a lien against any amount
thereafter payable as temporary or permanent disability compensation,
subject to the determination of the amount and approval of the lien
by the appeals board. When the Employment Development Department has
served an insurer or employer with a lien claim, the insurer or
employer shall notify the Employment Development Department, in
writing, as soon as possible, but in no event later than 15 working
days after commencing disability indemnity payments. When a lien has
been served on an insurer or an employer by the Employment
Development Department, the insurer or employer shall notify the
Employment Development Department, in writing, within 10 working days
of filing an application for adjudication, a stipulated award, or a
compromise and release with the appeals board.
(b) (1) In determining the amount of lien to be allowed for
unemployment compensation disability benefits under subdivision (f)
of Section 4903, the appeals board shall allow the lien in the amount
of benefits which it finds were paid for the same day or days of
disability for which an award of compensation for any permanent
disability indemnity resulting solely from the same injury or illness
or temporary disability indemnity, or both, is made and for which
the employer has not reimbursed the Employment Development Department
pursuant to Section 2629.1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(2) In determining the amount of lien to be allowed for
unemployment compensation benefits and extended duration benefits
under subdivision (g) of Section 4903, the appeals board shall allow
the lien in the amount of benefits which it finds were paid for the
same day or days for which an award of compensation for temporary
total disability is made.
(3) In determining the amount of lien to be allowed for family
temporary disability insurance benefits under subdivision (h) of
Section 4903, the appeals board shall allow the lien in the amount of
benefits that it finds were paid for the same day or days for which
an award of compensation for temporary total disability is made and
for which the employer has not reimbursed the Employment Development
Department pursuant to Section 2629.1 of the Unemployment Insurance
Code.
(c) In the case of agreements for the compromise and release of a
disputed claim for compensation, the applicant and defendant may
propose to the appeals board, as part of the compromise and release
agreement, an amount out of the settlement to be paid to any lien
claimant claiming under subdivision (f), (g), or (h) of Section 4903.
If the lien claimant objects to the amount proposed for payment of
its lien under a compromise and release settlement or stipulation,
the appeals board shall determine the extent of the lien claimant's
entitlement to reimbursement on its lien and make and file findings
on all facts involved in the controversy over this issue in
accordance with Section 5313. The appeals board may approve a
compromise and release agreement or stipulation which proposes the
disallowance of a lien, in whole or in part, only where there is
proof of service upon the lien claimant by the defendant, not less
than 15 days prior to the appeals board action, of all medical and
rehabilitation documents and a copy of the proposed compromise and
release agreement or stipulation. The determination of the appeals
board, subject to petition for reconsideration and to the right of
judicial review, as to the amount of lien allowed under subdivision
(f), (g), or (h) of Section 4903, whether in connection with an award
of compensation or the approval of a compromise and release
agreement, shall be binding on the lien claimant, the applicant, and
the defendant, insofar as the right to benefits paid under the
Unemployment Insurance Code for which the lien was claimed. The
appeals board may order the amount of any lien claim, as determined
and allowed by it, to be paid directly to the person entitled, either
in a lump sum or in installments.
(d) Where unemployment compensation disability benefits, including
family temporary disability insurance benefits, have been paid
pursuant to the Unemployment Insurance Code while reconsideration of
an order, decision, or award is pending, or has been granted, the
appeals board shall determine and allow a final amount on the lien as
of the date the board is ready to issue its decision denying a
petition for reconsideration or affirming, rescinding, altering or
amending the original findings, order, decision, or award.
(e) The appeals board shall not be prohibited from approving a
compromise and release agreement on all other issues and deferring to
subsequent proceedings the determination of a lien claimant's
entitlement to reimbursement if the defendant in any of these
proceedings agrees to pay the amount subsequently determined to be
due under the lien claim.
(f) The amendments made to this section by the act adding this
subdivision are declaratory of existing law, and shall not constitute
good cause to reopen, rescind, or amend any final order, decision,
or award of the appeals board.