New Jersey latest COVID-19 comp presumption state

Gov. Phil Murphy, D-New Jersey, on Monday signed into law a bill that provides workers compensation benefits for essential workers who acquire COVID-19.

 

Lawmakers in July passed S.B. 2380, which creates the rebuttable presumption that COVID-19 is an occupational disease during a declared state of emergency for certain workers.

 

According to the law, essential employees are classified as those whose job duties are considered essential during an emergency response and recovery operation; public or private sector employees whose job duties are essential to the public’s health, safety and welfare; emergency responders and workers at health care facilities and those performing jobs that support a health care facility, such as laundry, research and hospital food service.

 

The legislation takes effect immediately and will be retroactive to March 9.