CA AB1156

Expands workers' compensation coverage for hospital employees who provide direct patient care in acute care hospitals to include infectious diseases, cancer, musculoskeletal injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and respiratory diseases.

Creates rebuttable presumptions that these five categories of injuries arose out of and in the course of employment, shifting the burden to employers to prove otherwise.

Extends presumptions for specified periods following employment termination: up to 60 months for infectious diseases and musculoskeletal injuries, 120 months for cancer and respiratory diseases, and 36 months for post-traumatic stress disorder (3 calendar months per year of employment, with stated maximums).

Includes COVID-19 and its variants under both infectious disease and respiratory disease definitions, along with specific conditions such as tuberculosis, meningitis, MRSA skin infection, and exposure-based cancers like those from antineoplastic drugs or anesthetic gases.

Entitles covered hospital employees to full hospital, surgical, medical treatment, disability indemnity, and death benefits under California workers' compensation law for these newly defined work-related injuries.