Calif. Workers’ Comp Head Moving to New Position

Andrea Hoch, who has served as director of the California’s workers’ compensation program since 2004, has been named by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as his legal affairs secretary.

Hoch, whose tenure as head of the insurance program was marked by conflict with Democratic lawmakers, replaces Peter Siggins, who moved to interim chief of staff last month. A long time staff attorney for the Department of Justice, Hoch was a former chief assistant for the Civil Law Division under Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

Both Schwarzenegger and Lockyer issued statements praising Hoch. “She is a talented attorney who shares my vision for the future of California and I look forward to working with her,” said Schwarzenegger.

In leading the complex and sometimes controversial implementation of new worker compensation rules last year, Hoch consistently drew fire from Democratic lawmakers who accused her of cutting payments to injured workers to benefit employers.