California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced several appointments to positions that further the California Department of Insurance’s mission to protect the state’s consumers.
The announcement included the reappointment of members Mitch Steiger and C. Bryan Little to the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) Governing Committee as well as reappointing member Dr. Fabiola Cobarrubias to the state’s Insurance Diversity Task Force.
The WCIRB Governing Committee creates policy, manages WCIRB operations, and reviews matters related to pure premium rates, classifications, rating plans, systems, manual rules, and endorsement forms. The WCIRB is a private organization, funded by assessments from its insurance company members, that collects and analyzes rating data. All California workers' compensation insurance companies must join the WCIRB by law.
The Insurance Diversity Task Force supports the department’s Insurance Diversity Initiative, promoting insurers to increase contracts with diverse business owners like women, veterans, historically disadvantaged communities or LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and improve diversity on insurance company boards. The Task Force advises the insurance commissioner on ways to boost diversity in the insurance industry.
"I am pleased to announce these reappointments to the Insurance Diversity Task Force and the WCIRB Governing Committee," Lara said in a press release. “Now more than ever, diversity means business and community input is essential to protecting consumers. I appreciate the insight and perspectives these members bring to our oversight of the nation’s largest insurance market.”
Details of the appointed individuals are as follows:
WCIRB Governing Committee
Steiger is a legislative representative for CFT, a union representing over 120,000 education workers in California. He is involved in various committees related to health and safety, and he is reappointed to the WCIRB Governing Committee as a labor representative until April 14, 2027.
Little is the senior director of policy advocacy at the California Farm Bureau Federation, where he handles legislative and regulatory issues related to agricultural employment, safety, and workers’ compensation insurance. He has previously worked with the U. S. Department of Labor and serves on the board of directors for the Agricultural Personnel Management Association. Little has been reappointed to the WCIRB Governing Committee as an employer representative until April 14, 2027.
Insurance Diversity Task Force
Cobarrubias is the CEO of Pacific Inpatient Medical Group, providing hospitalist services in the Bay Area. She has also served on the board of ProAssurance Corporation and has expertise in board diversity. She has been reappointed to the Insurance Diversity Task Force until March 7, 2027.