CT HB06595

Summary of Connecticut HB 6595

• COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Presumption: Employees who contracted COVID-19 during the public health emergency are presumed to have an occupational disease arising from employment, with employers required to rebut by preponderance of evidence; burial benefits increased from $4,000 to $20,000 for COVID-19 deaths

• Expanded PTSD Coverage: Post-traumatic stress injury eligibility extended beyond police officers and firefighters to include emergency medical services personnel, Department of Correction employees, telecommunicators, and health care providers responding to COVID-19

• Laid-Off Employee Rehiring Rights: Employers with 5+ employees must offer available positions to workers laid off due to COVID-19 in order of seniority, with 10 days to accept; employees can bring civil actions for violations with potential treble damages

• PPE Stockpile Requirements: Department of Public Health must create two 90-day stockpiles of personal protective equipment; health care and long-term care providers must maintain 90-day PPE inventory or face $25,000 civil penalty

• COVID-19 Sick Leave: Employers must provide 80 hours of COVID-19 sick leave (or two weeks' worth for part-time workers) for isolation, quarantine, caregiving, or school closures, retroactive to March 10, 2020, paid at the employee's normal hourly wage