Bill > SB632

This bill expands workers' compensation protections for hospital employees who provide direct patient care in acute care hospitals by defining "injury" to include several specific health conditions: infectious diseases, cancer, musculoskeletal injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and respiratory diseases. For each of these conditions, the bill creates a rebuttable presumption that if the condition develops or manifests during the employee's period of employment, it is considered work-related and eligible for workers' compensation benefits. The bill includes COVID-19 and its variants as part of both infectious and respiratory disease categories. Additionally, the bill extends these presumptions for a specified period after an employee's termination of employment - typically 3 calendar months for each full year worked, with maximum extension periods ranging from 36 to 120 months depending on the specific condition. The bill's legislative findings emphasize the significant health risks faced by hospital workers, particularly nurses (who are predominantly women), and aim to provide more comprehensive protection for healthcare professionals who are regularly exposed to hazardous working conditions. By creating these presumptions, the bill makes it easier for hospital employees to receive workers' compensation benefits for work-related health conditions.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB632