Frontline workers will once again have a faster path to Workers' Compensation benefits in Minnesota, a presumption in law that a COVID-19 infection happened in the workplace and is a job-related injury.
First responders and healthcare workers joined lawmakers at Brooklyn Park's central fire station Friday afternoon, to watch Gov. Tim Walz sign the bill extending that rule until May of 2023. It was the first bill passed by the legislature in the 2022 Session and had strong bipartisan support. "Those people were there. There was no break in there. They responded accordingly," Gov. Walz remarked before signing the bill.
"They did all they could at the time, that we knew, but it put people at risk. And the risk continues for them."
The workplace presumption is critical to helping first responders get coverage for medical costs and be paid for lost time during their recovery and quarantine.
