HB4276 Bill Summary

• Amends the Public Employee Disability Act to extend the one-year compensation period for eligible employees injured in the line of duty by up to 60 additional days if COVID-19 circumstances hinder physical recovery between March 9, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

• Creates rebuttable presumptions that COVID-19 deaths of police officers and firefighters contracted between March 9, 2020 and June 30, 2021 resulted from duty-related exposure, entitling survivors to compensation and death benefits.

• Establishes rebuttable presumptions for COVID-19 infections among designated first responders and essential workers, including healthcare workers, corrections officers, and emergency medical technicians, presuming work-related exposure and causation.

• Amends the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act to include COVID-19 presumptions for first responders and front-line workers whose employment required public contact or work in facilities with 15+ employees between March 9, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

• Adds exemption to State Mandates Act specifying no state reimbursement is required for implementing mandates created by this amendatory act.