N.Y. lawmakers see second COVID death bill

New York lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a bill that would allow survivors of those whose COVID-19 deaths were alleged to have been connected to work to refile workers compensation death benefits claims that were previously denied due to timing.

A.B. 9804, which was sent to the Assembly Labor Committee, is the second such bill introduced by state lawmakers: the identical S.B. 7792 was introduced in December 2023 and died in committee.

The latest bill, which pertains to workers deemed essential during the pandemic, would allow the reopening of claims that were denied because they did not meet the provisions in current law that claims be filed within two years of the death and/or within 30 days of the injury.

If signed into law, the bill would immediately give families up to one year to refile claims.