Minnesota House votes to extend workers comp benefits to first responders

 

The Minnesota House of Representatives, on Tuesday, voted to extend workers compensation benefits to first responders, among other groups.

The bill provides not only first responders, but also health care providers and workers required to provide child care for first responders or health care workers. The bill provides the workers compensation benefits in the event the providers contract the deadly COVID-19 virus while on the job.

The bill also state that, “the employee's contraction of COVID-19 must be confirmed by a positive laboratory test or, if a laboratory test was not available for the employee, as diagnosed and documented  by the employee's licensed physician, licensed physician's assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), based on the employee's symptoms.”

The bill also authorized the Labor and Industry Commissioner to extend the implementation date of the CAMPUS system beyond August 31, 2020, if the Commissioner determines the implementation should be delayed due to COVID-19.