Existing law establishes a workers' compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, to compensate an employee for injuries sustained in the course of employment. Existing law creates a disputable presumption that specified injuries sustained in the course of employment of a specified member of law enforcement or a specified first responder arose out of and in the course of the employment.
This bill would, until an unspecified date, define "injury" for a critical worker, as described, to include illness or death that results from exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) under specified circumstances. The bill would create a disputable presumption, as specified, that an injury that develops or manifests itself while a critical worker is employed arose out of and in the course of the employment.

Statutes affected:
SB 1159: 98 LAB, 200 LAB
02/20/20 - Introduced: 200 LAB
04/01/20 - Amended Senate: 98 LAB, 200 LAB
04/22/20 - Amended Senate: 98 LAB
SB1159: 200 LAB