TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolution in support of AB 664 and SB 893, regarding presumptive work-related injuries and worker's compensation for first responders and return to the City Council for adoption on June 2, 2020.
DISCUSSION
AB 664
Due to the unique dangers faced by first responders, certain types of injuries are deemed presumptively work-related. During the COVID-19 pandemic, first responders and health care professionals are required by law to provide vital public safety services. This puts them at a higher risk of exposure and infection. AB 664 will classify COVID- 19 and other communicable diseases as presumptive work-related injuries for nurses, firefighters, and peace officers.
To protect first responders on the front-lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response AB 664 provides:
1) An occupational presumption for injuries sustained from COVID-19, and other communicable diseases, for peace officers, firefighters, and health care workers.
2) The presumptive injury status applies ONLY if there is a declared state of emergency by state or local governments.
3) Reasonable reimbursements for out of pocket expenses for personal protective equipment and other costs that provide for protection to self and the public.
4) Property right protections (leave balances) for these workers when they are ordered home, without confirmed testing, by their employer.
SB893
Our healthcare system is growing by the numbers each day. Workers on the front line who work in health care settings, such as nurses, are not entitled to workers' compensation presumptions. Only a number of frontline professionals are currently ?eligible for workers' compensation presumptions. These include professions such as EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, and police officers.
There are a number of frontline nurses treating patients with COVID-19, exposing themselves to this infection. Currently, the number of nurses and health care workers working in the f...
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