The Daily Bulletin: 2020-05-01

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The Daily Bulletin: 2020-05-01

PUBLIC/HOUSE BILLS
H 1056 (2019-2020) WC/COVID-19/COVER ESSENTIAL WORKERS. Filed May 1 2020, AN ACT AMENDING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW TO PROVIDE OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE COVERAGE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO CONTRACT CORONAVIRUS.

Amends GS 97-53 to expand the diseases and conditions deemed to be occupational diseases treated as an injury by accident under the Workers' Compensation Act and within the scope of the same procedure, practice, compensation and other benefits for the disablement or death of an employee as such under GS 97-52.

Adds contraction of the coronavirus infection by a covered person to the diseases and conditions deemed an occupational disease, presumed to be due to exposure in the course of the covered person's employment, only rebuttable by clear and convincing evidence. Covered persons under this provision only include (1) law enforcement officers, jailers, prison guards, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, or paramedics employed by a State or local government, including volunteer firefighters, and (2) health care workers. Defines coronavirus by federal statutory cross-reference.

Applies to claims for workers' compensation benefits filed on or after the date the act becomes law.

Intro. by Richardson.GS 97
H 1057 (2019-2020) WC/COVID-19 FRONT LINE COVERAGE/FUNDS. Filed May 1 2020, AN ACT AMENDING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW TO CREATE A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, AND ESSENTIAL SERVICE WORKERS WHO ARE INFECTED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS CONTRACTED THE DISEASE IN THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT, REQUIRING THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYERS CREDIT FIRST RESPONDERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS FOR LEAVE TAKEN WHILE QUARANTINED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE OFFICE OF STATE HUMAN RESOURCES TO SETTLE STATE EMPLOYEE WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

Section 1

Amends GS 97-53 to expand the diseases and conditions deemed to be occupational diseases treated as an injury by accident under the Workers' Compensation Act and within the scope of the same procedure, practice, compensation and other benefits for the disablement or death of an employee as such under GS 97-52.

Adds contraction of a pandemic infection by a covered person to the diseases and conditions deemed an occupational disease, presumed to be due to exposure in the course of the covered person's employment, only rebuttable by clear and convincing evidence. Covered persons under this provision only include (1) law enforcement officers, jailers, prison guards, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, or paramedics employed by a State or local government, including volunteer firefighters, (2) health care workers and (3) employees required to work during a pandemic for a business declared essential by a gubernatorial or local government order, including food service and retail. Defines pandemic to mean an outbreak of an emerging disease prevalent in the US or the whole world.

Applies to claims for workers' compensation benefits filed on or after the date the act becomes law.

Section 2

Appropriates $5 million nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR), Department of Administration for the 2020-21 fiscal year to settle State employee claims for under new GS 97-53(30) in the course of State employment. Requires the funds to remain available until December 31, 2020, after which the OSHR is permitted to use the funds to assist State agencies with settling outstanding workers' compensation claims. Effective July 1, 2020.

Section 3

Requires local government employers to credit specified employees for any sick or vacation leave taken to comply with a quarantine related to coronavirus exposure, including health care workers, law enforcement officers, jailers, prison guards, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and volunteer firefighters. 

Applies to every local law enforcement agency, county, city and political subdivision of the State.

Intro. by Jackson, Boles, Setzer, R. Smith.APPROP, GS 97

The Daily Bulletin: 2020-05-01

The Daily Bulletin: 2020-05-01

The Daily Bulletin: 2020-05-01

ACTIONS ON BILLS

Actions on Bills: 2020-05-01

PUBLIC BILLS

H 1056: WC/COVID-19/COVER ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

    House: Filed
    House: Passed 1st Reading
    House: Ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Judiciary, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

H 1057: WC/COVID-19 FRONT LINE COVERAGE/FUNDS.

    House: Filed

S 706: TECHNICAL AND OTHER CHANGES. (NEW)

    Senate: Passed 1st Reading
    Senate: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
    Senate: Passed 1st Reading
    Senate: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

S 707: PED/STATE PORTS EFFICIENCY &AMP EFFECTIVENESS.

    Senate: Passed 1st Reading
    Senate: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

S 708: CPS INTAKE SCREENING/PED RECOMMENDATIONS.

    Senate: Passed 1st Reading
    Senate: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

Actions on Bills: 2020-05-01

No local actions on bills

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