Printed from BusinessInsurance.com

Bills would address trauma, COVID-19 family assistance

Posted On: Feb. 23, 2021 11:18 AM CST

workplace injuries

Lawmakers in Illinois are now considering bills that would clarify workplace injury causation and place limits on cumulative trauma injuries, and provide financial assistance to the families of health care workers who die of COVID-19.

 

Introduced Monday, H.B. 3556 would clarify that an “injury arises out of and in the course of employment only if the accident significantly caused or contributed to both the resulting condition and the disability.” The bill also states that “an injury does not arise out of and in the course of employment if (1) the hazard or risk was not incidental to employment and was a hazard or risk to which the general public is also exposed, (2) the injury did not occur at a time and place and under circumstances reasonably required by the employment, or (3) the disability resulted from a personal risk.”

 

The bill also limits conditions under which repetitive or cumulative trauma is compensable and “provides that gradual deterioration or progressive degeneration of the body caused by aging is not compensable as repetitive or cumulative trauma.”

 

Also introduced Monday, H.B. 3815 would create the COVID-19 Family Assistance Program, providing $50,000 for health care workers who die as a result of COVID-19, and $25,000 to families of persons who die of the virus.

 

Both bills were sent to a rules committee.

 

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here