A battle between professional athletes and owners of football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer teams starts Monday. The Los Angeles Times reports that dozens of retired athletes plan a news conference on the steps of the state Capitol to denounce a bill that would make it harder for them to file workers’ compensation claims in California.

The measure, AB 1309 by Assemblyman Henry Perea (D-Fresno), seeks to close what he sees as a legal loophole that allows out-of-state players to file claims for compensation for sports injuries developed from years of pounding in the arena. An Assembly Insurance Committee hearing is set for April 24.

Opposing the bill are the players and their unions. The legislation interferes with collective bargaining agreements, said NFL Players Assn. Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. Among those players expected Monday are J.J. Stokes of the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots; Ickey Woods of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals; and Marty McSorley, who played hockey for half a dozen teams, including the Los Angles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

Perea counters that out-of-state players are taking advantage of an overly generous California law. “The question as I see it for the Legislature,” he said, “is whether it is fair to burden California’s system with these claims from out-of-state employees.”