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2021 SESSION
HB 1985 Workers' compensation; presumption of compensability for COVID-19.
Introduced by: Chris L. Hurst | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles | history
SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:
Workers' compensation; presumption of compensability for COVID-19. Establishes a presumption that COVID-19 causing the death or disability of health care providers is an occupational disease compensable under the Workers' Compensation Act. The bill provides that the COVID-19 virus is established by a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19, an incubation period consistent with COVID-19, and signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that require medical treatment. The bill provides that such presumption applies to any death or disability occurring on or after March 12, 2020, caused by infection from the COVID-19 virus, provided that for any such death or disability that occurred on or after March 12, 2020, and prior to December 31, 2021, the claimant received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 from a licensed physician, after either a presumptive positive test or a laboratory-confirmed test for COVID-19, and presented with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that required medical treatment. The bill provides that such presumptions do not apply to any person offered by his employer a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 unless the person's physician determines in writing that immunization would pose a significant risk to the person's health.
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Workers' compensation; presumption of compensability for COVID-19. Establishes a presumption that COVID-19 causing the death or disability of health care providers who as part of the provider's employment are directly involved in diagnosing or treating persons known or suspected to have COVID-19 is an occupational disease compensable under the Workers' Compensation Act. The provisions of the bill will be effective retroactive to January 1, 2020.