Bill to Extend Pandemic Workers’ Comp Passes Committee Unanimously

(KNSI) – St. Cloud area Representative Dan Wolgamott’s legislation extending pandemic workers’ compensation has advanced through committee with unanimous support.

According to a press release from Wolgamott’s office, Tuesday, the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony on legislation to extend the workers’ compensation benefits afforded to public safety and health care workers who are either sickened or quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.

Similar legislation, also introduced by Wolgamott, was signed into law last April, which says that if a public safety or healthcare worker contracts COVID-19, it is assumed that it happened in the line of duty and would fall under workers’ compensation. This would protect the employee’s paid time off or sick leave from being used to make up for lost pay.

Impacted professions include firefighters, police officers, correctional officers, or security counselors at correctional facilities, paramedics and EMTs, healthcare providers like nurses or nurses assistants in health facilities, home care providers, or long-term care employees who work with COVID patients, and child care workers.

The current legislation would expire May 1, 2021. This extension would put the expiration date at May 1, 2022.

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