Volunteers are not covered unless _____.

• A. they sign a volunteer agreement
• B. the nonprofit adopts coverage
• C. they are paid a stipend
• D. coverage is automatic after one year

Answer: (B)

Volunteers aren’t automatically covered by a nonprofit’s workers’ compensation plan in California; they’re covered only if the nonprofit adopts coverage. In other words, the organization must affirmatively elect to provide workers’ compensation for volunteers, typically by including them in its policy or self-insurance arrangement. Without this adoption, volunteers don’t receive the benefit of workers’ comp if they’re injured while volunteering.

Signing a volunteer agreement doesn’t automatically create coverage, and a stipend or a fixed period of time doesn’t by itself grant workers’ compensation. Coverage also isn’t automatic after any set period. The key is the nonprofit’s explicit decision to adopt coverage.