The comp system which serves as an exclusive remedy for workers' claims, he said, "was a fundamental policy decision made by California nearly a century ago, and we think it should be maintained."

Additionally, the proposals call for those being compensated to have their benefits increased as of January 2007, and tie subsequent increases to the state's average weekly wage.

Mr. Sorich said that the ACIC was among the founding members of a consortium opposed to the initiatives known as the Californians Against the Job Killing Initiatives. That group, he said, is in the "preliminary stages" of preparing an opposition to the initiatives, with a meeting of business and public sector interests scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Sacramento.

"Workers' compensation costs affect everyone, and all three of these initiatives threaten not only small businesses but nonprofits, school districts and local governments," said Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of CAJKI.

"These initiatives would take away savings that could be used to hire more teachers, build new roads and serve the less fortunate," he added.

The summaries of the proposals noted that their costs to the state could be "potentially in the mid-to-high hundreds of millions of dollars" due to injuries to state and local government employees.

Margaret Prinzing, an attorney with the firm of Remcho, Johansen & Purcell who has taken over as chief contact on the initiatives for their original filer, Danielle Viohl, declined to comment about the proposals or any strategies for collecting signatures and gaining support.

She did say she had seen press reports about the opposition to the proposals in the business community, adding that it was "about what we expect."