Substitute House Bill No. 7053 establishes a working group tasked with developing uniform statutory definitions for the terms "first responder" and "essential worker." The working group will consist of various members, including at least five individuals appointed by the chairpersons and ranking members of the relevant joint standing committee of the General Assembly, as well as key state officials such as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Labor Commissioner, the Commissioner of Public Health, and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or their designees. The bill outlines that initial appointments must be made within thirty days of the bill's passage, and the first meeting of the working group is to occur within sixty days.
The working group is required to submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee by January 1, 2026. The group will dissolve upon submitting this report or on January 1, 2026, whichever is later. The bill does not include any deletions from current law but introduces new provisions to establish the working group and its operational framework.