SB 01002 Summary

• Workers' Compensation Protections: Prohibits employer retaliation against employees filing workers' compensation claims and strengthens anti-discrimination provisions with remedies including reinstatement, back pay, and attorney's fees.

• COVID-19 Occupational Disease Presumption: Establishes a presumption that employees who contracted COVID-19 during declared public health emergencies did so as an occupational disease, with limited exceptions for remote workers.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Requires creation of two state PPE stockpiles for emergency distribution to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other essential entities at no cost during public health emergencies.

• Pandemic Pay for Essential Employees: Establishes grants to employers providing essential employees with additional compensation ($5-10 per hour) for work during the COVID-19 emergency period (March 20, 2020 - April 30, 2021).

• COVID-19 Sick Leave: Mandates employers provide employees with 80 hours (or prorated equivalent) of paid sick leave for COVID-19 related absences, retroactively available from March 10, 2020, with protections against retaliation and no documentation requirements.