Senate Bill No. 1222 seeks to amend the definition of "arising out of and in the course of his employment" for workers' compensation coverage specifically for public works department employees. The bill introduces new provisions that clarify the circumstances under which an employee's actions are considered within the scope of their employment. This includes extending coverage to employees who receive emergency calls while off duty, respond to direct orders to report to work during nonessential employee excusal periods, or work consecutive mandatory overtime shifts. The intent is to ensure that these employees are covered for injuries sustained while commuting to and from their duties.

Additionally, the bill repeals existing language in subdivision (1) of section 31-275 that previously defined the scope of employment for workers' compensation claims. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2025, and are expected to have fiscal implications for state and municipal budgets, potentially increasing costs related to workers' compensation premiums and claims. The Workers' Compensation Commission is mandated to adopt regulations to clarify terms related to the new provisions, ensuring that the implementation aligns with the updated definitions. Overall, the bill aims to provide public works department employees with similar portal-to-portal coverage already available to other emergency and essential service workers.