Posted: | April 21, 2020 02:32 PM |
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From: | Representative Frank A. Farry and Rep. Martina A. White |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | COVID-19 - Presumption Legislation |
We plan to introduce two pieces of legislation amending the Workers' Compensation Act to provide additional protection to those on the first line of defense against COVID-19 and whose jobs put them at greater risk of contracting the disease.
Our first piece of this legislative package will list COVID-19 as an occupational disease of occupational exposure to COVID-19 for paid and volunteer emergency responders, police, corrections workers and others who deal with inmates.
The second bill will provide the same protection for employees of healthcare providers who provide in-person care to patients.
A positive test for COVID-19 will create a rebuttable presumption of occupational exposure for these employees, so that they face fewer barriers to obtaining workers' compensation benefits for medical costs and lost wages if they contract COVID-19.
We hope you will consider joining us in sponsoring these two important initiatives to help protect those who are making tremendous sacrifices to safeguard Pennsylvanians during this difficult and unprecedented time. |
Introduced as HB2486
Description: | Our first bill will list COVID-19 as an occupational disease of occupational exposure to COVID-19 for paid and volunteer emergency responders, police, corrections workers and others who deal with inmates. | |
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Introduced as HB2485
Description: | Our second bill will list COVID-19 as an occupational disease of occupational exposure to COVID-19 for employees of healthcare providers who provide in-person care to patients. | |
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