DIR Used Workers' Comp Fund for Investigations | Fresno News

California’s workers’ comp fund is being secretly used to pay for internal investigations — over $30 million spent from 2020 to 2026, with no proof of repayment. State law strictly forbids this, limiting funds to claims, return-to-work programs, and employer penalties. One probe into a former Cal-OSHA manager cost $80K, while contracts totaling $20M went to a firm led by a former DIR director — all funded by the same pool. Critics call it a “slush fund” and a “breach of public trust,” while DIR insists reimbursements are possible — but records remain missing, fueling outrage and suspicion. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/667f3b78a5dfadbe