House File 121 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 121
BY HUNTER
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to compensation for infection with COVID-19 or
2 a similar disease under the Iowa occupational disease law.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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 H.F. 121
1 Section 1. Section 85A.12, Code 2021, is amended by adding
2 the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 3. a. For purposes of this subsection,
4 “COVID-19” means the same as defined in section 686D.2.
5 b. If an employee can show that the employee was exposed
6 to a person infected with COVID-19 or a similar disease while
7 in the workplace, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that
8 the employee’s infection with COVID-19 or a similar disease is
9 an occupational disease for which an employer is liable for
10 compensation.
11 Sec. 2. Section 686D.8, subsection 3, Code 2021, is amended
12 to read as follows:
13 3. Affect the rights or limits under workers’ either of the
14 following:
15 a. Workers’ compensation as provided in chapter 85, 85A, or
16 85B, or the except as provided in section 85A.12, subsection 3.
17 b. The rights or limits related to police officers or fire
18 fighters under chapter 410 or 411.
19 EXPLANATION
20 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
21 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
22 Under current law, Code chapter 686D, the COVID-19 response
23 and back-to-business limited liability Act, shall not be
24 construed to affect the rights or limits under workers’
25 compensation.
26 This bill provides that if an employee can show that the
27 employee was exposed to a person infected with COVID-19 or
28 a similar disease while in the workplace, there shall be a
29 rebuttable presumption that the employee’s infection with
30 COVID-19 or a similar disease is an occupational disease for
31 which an employer is liable for compensation under the Iowa
32 occupational disease law.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 85A.12, 686D.8