S.F. No. 4194 Summary

• Amends Minnesota Statutes section 144.4196 to provide protections for employees and individuals subject to isolation or quarantine for communicable diseases based on commissioner directives, federal quarantine officer orders, court orders, or written recommendations from the health commissioner.

• Requires employers to allow qualified employees to work from home during isolation or quarantine if reasonable and feasible, and prohibits discharge, discipline, or discrimination against employees for being isolated or quarantined.

• Provides that civil court actions shall be stayed during a person's isolation or quarantine period if it materially affects their ability to appear in court.

• Directs the Commissioner of Commerce to negotiate with credit reporting bureaus to waive negative credit reports during isolation or quarantine and to seek federal waivers for federally guaranteed student loan obligations.

• Limits protections to work absences of 21 consecutive workdays or fewer; longer absences resulting in job loss are treated as serious illness for unemployment compensation purposes.

• Allows employees to bring civil actions within 180 days of a violation to recover lost wages, seek reinstatement, or obtain other relief, with prevailing employees entitled to reasonable attorney fees.