On April 29, 2020, PORAC President Brian Marvel, on behalf of the PORAC Board of Directors, wrote a letter to Assemblymember Jim Cooper to inform him of PORAC’s co-sponsorship of AB 664.

 

AB 664 will classify COVID-19, and other communicable diseases, as presumptive work-related injuries for nurses, firefighters and peace officers.

 

To protect first responders on the front-lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response, AB 664 provides:

 

1) An occupational presumption for injuries sustained from COVID-19, and other communicable diseases

 

2) The presumptive injury status applies only if there is a declared state of emergency by the state or a local government

 

3) Reasonable reimbursements for out of pocket expenses for personal protective equipment and other costs for protection to self and the public

 

4) Property right protections (leave balances) for these workers when they are ordered home, without confirmed testing, by their employer.