COVID Presumption Passes Legislature

(KNSI) – With strong bipartisan support, a bill authored by Senator Jeff Howe of Rockville and Representative Dan Wolgamott of St. Cloud became the first bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature of the 2022 session.

The bill would extend the law providing a presumption that if public safety or health care workers contract COVID-19, they did so during the course of their employment and are covered by workers’ compensation.

The previous law allowing this presumption sunsetted on December 31st, 2021. Officials from the Minnesota House and Senate report more than 22,500 workers received compensation before the law ended.

“Passing this legislation is a huge victory for Minnesota’s 183,000 public safety, healthcare, and childcare workers,” said Rep. Wolgamott, the author of the house bill. “By extending the workers’ compensation presumption for frontline workers who contract COVID-19, we are having the backs of the Minnesotans who are keeping us safe, taking care of us when we are sick, and caring for our children.”

“This is an important bill for workers in our State, and it’s only fitting that this bill was the first of the year to be passed off the Senate Floor,” said Sen. Howe. “Many workers throughout our state have continued showing up to work, despite the unique challenges presented by Covid. Naturally, this has led to workers contracting the virus while on the job. Not only do workers support this bill, but it also has gained wide support throughout stakeholders—the Workers’ Compensation Council, insurance providers, and stakeholders in the business and labor industries are all in agreeance on this matter. Extending the sunset date is the right thing to do so our workers and businesses can be adequately protected.”

The bill passed the House 124-8 and passed the Senate 66-0. The bill will be sent to Governor Walz for his approval, who officials say has not indicated his opinion on the bill.

To view the complete bill, click here.

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