Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday authored by a Bay Area state legislator that will expand access to workers’ compensation for front-line workers affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Senate Bill 1159 creates a rebuttable presumption of infection for people like grocery store employees, health care workers, firefighters and law enforcement officers who believe they contracted the coronavirus at work.
The law, authored by state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, also creates a presumption of infection whenever there is a workplace outbreak over a two-week span of time.
“Everyone who is providing the benefits to our community and our society today, they need to be protected,” Hill said. “This legislation … has done that.”
SB 1159 will take effect immediately as an urgency statute and will remain in effect through Jan. 1, 2023.
Newsom also signed a bill authored by Assemblywoman Eloise Gomes Reyes that will require employers to report coronavirus outbreaks to their local public health department within 48 hours and to employees who may have been exposed within one business day.
Assembly Bill 685 also gives the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) the authority to close a worksite or place of employment that is actively exposing workers to the risk of contracting the virus.
“These bills give workers a choice and a voice,” California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Julie Su said.
AB 685 will also remain in effect through Jan. 1, 2023.
“Protecting workers is critical to slowing the spread of this virus,” Newsom said. “These two laws will help California workers stay safe at work and get the support they need if they are exposed to COVID-19.”
I’m outraged by this action! We all know the Covid pandemic is a farce and a plot to drive President Trump from office. The Democrats have plotted this hoax from Day 1 and now they’re going to waste more taxpayer money trying to buy votes from people they put out of work. We need to stop this socialist giveaway today. All of you out of work because of the evil leftists need to decline this bribe, even at the expense of your wellbeing, for the good of the nation. It’s time to sacrifice all to keep Donald Trump in office.
Nice try Dan. Why would anyone sacrifice anything to keep that crook and his family in office? ROTFL !
What planet are you from?
Yep, a WORLD WIDE hoax, orchestrated by many governments (including Trump-friendly nations and our enemies). Sounds plausible.
I am confident that those impacted and who hate socialism will never take a penny.
NOT A CHANCE!
@ilovepopcorn
I’m confident that Rob and Dirty Dan are being facetious.
There go our Worker’s Comp rates
I am very much NOT a Democrat, but I am considered an essential worker, so I go to work every day. I haven’t read the bill, so I can’t say for sure but, at least on the surface, this seems like a good thing. For those who think people should be working (and I agree), this should make it easier for that to happen.
nice try gavin, pandering like any democrat, you are being recalled!!
#RecallGavinNow
I hope everyone realizes this is going to make worker’s compensation premiums shoot up for employers. Making it more expensive and costing more per hour of work for every new worker they bring on.
Who will this hurt the most? Small business. Which is already being driven out of the state.
Hope y’all are down to work for the wal marts and targets of the world because that’s the only job that will be left in California unless you have a specific skill, professional certification or license.
Of all people I’ve spoken with you have received medical/therapy care from a workers comp claim, I’ve yet to speak with a person who had a positive experience. The workers comp program decides what care you receive and where you get it. Your personal medical insurance won’t cover any workers comp issues. If you are getting physical therapy under workers comp, as soon as you stop improving with treatment, even though treatments are maintaining physical issues, workers comp will no longer cover treatment. Same with mental health therapy.
And as has been posted, this will only jack up workers comp rates, the cost of which which will be passed onto the consumers / customers.
California is teetering on bankruptcy while gov Neusance signs another freebie give away. This is all his fault.
He’s hoping to get a federal bailout, since he doesn’t have the funding, for his and gov Brown’s reckless squandering of our taxes and his illegal shutdown which destroyed countless businesses and ruined many thousands of people’s lives…..and we got the CHINA VIRUS anyway.
I really hope the state does go into bankruptcy. It’s exactly what we deserve!
I’ve already signed the recall.
Before jumping up and down might be a really good idea to do some research. Would not be surprised if democrats, lacking adult supervision, pulled a fast one.
“You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”
–Rahm Emanuel
Operative words,
“opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”
An remember no one is watching what they’re doing.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB1159
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB1159#
I don’t see workman compensation has a hand out, it is something, everyone that works pays into. A few years ago, when I was carrying a long dress at Macy, the silky material got under my foot, and I fell and banged my already somewhat bad knee. Macy’s workman compensation paid for my physical therapy and medication. I was send to Kaiser, however it really helped, my knee got better. My regular insurance has a deductible, so I was glad I had no out of pocket expenses.
You don’t pay into anything. Workers comp is insurance that employers pay. The rates are affected by losses and covid claims will cause employers to pay higher rates.
So are you people really saying that if our grocery store workers who never asked to be “front line workers” get this virus and have to stay home they should just suffer? What ever happened to basic human kindness? So “democrats” are just terrible people for caring at the most basic level? Thank you Gavin Newsom for doing the best you can with what was thrown at you.