SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House approved legislation extending the COVID-19 presumption for workers’ compensation. The law provides 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.
“Our progress in battling COVID-19 is headed in the right direction, but many Minnesotans on the front lines are still facing an increased exposure to the pandemic,” said Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing). “Health care workers, law enforcement, EMTs and other heroes in our communities deserve to know that if they get sick, we will have their backs. Extending the COVID-19 presumption is a critically important step to support them during this challenging time.”
The previous law allowing for this presumption sunsetted on December 31, 2021, leaving 183,000 frontline workers without the guarantee of compensation in the event they contract COVID-19. The new bill would extend the presumption to Jan. 13, 2023. Since passage of the original law, 22,573 workers have received compensation under the presumption, totaling $20 million. During the lapsed time, over 2,000 frontline workers have contracted COVID-19.
Those workers impacted by this legislation include:
- Firefighters
- Peace and police officers
- Paramedics
- EMTs
- Health care providers, nurses or assistive employees in a health care, home care or long-term care setting who work with COVID-19 patients
- Nurses, health care workers, correctional officers or security counselors at correctional facilities
- Child care providers who are required to provide child care for the children of first responders and health care workers under executive orders
The Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council signed off on the extension on Tuesday. The Minnesota Senate approved the legislation earlier in the day, and following the House’s passage, the bill now heads to Governor Walz’s desk.