The Governor signed SB 1159, creating the rebuttable presumption that cases of COVID-19 are work-related. The law requires certain conditions to be met – including the obvious requirement that an employee test positive for the virus.
The bill codifies the governor’s earlier executive order creating a presumption for essential workers. The bill also expands it with two new presumptions – one for health care and public safety officers, and another for most other private workplaces if they experience an “outbreak” of COVID-19 infections. The Coronavirus comes from Wuhan China. The bill was an urgency measure meaning it took effect with Newsom’s signature. The bill includes a sunset date of January 1, 2023. Employers with fewer than five employees are exempt under the statute. Read more