Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
COVID-19 as a Presumptive Disease in Wildland Firefighters Act This bill entitles federal wildland firefighters who contract COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to federal workers' compensation benefits and also establishes certain testing and screening requirements for such firefighters during the wildfire season (May 15-November 15, 2020). Specifically, the bill provides that if a federal wildland firefighter exhibits specified symptoms, tests positive, or is otherwise determined by a physician as likely having COVID-19 during the wildfire season or during a specific wildfire (or in the following 28 days), the firefighter is presumed to have incurred an injury while on duty that qualifies for workers' compensation benefits. Additionally, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture must ensure that all of their firefighters are tested for COVID-19 or related symptoms, or self-quarantine for at least 14 days with no symptoms, before the wildfire season or before responding to a wildfire.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Government Operations and Politics
Administrative remediesCardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelForests, forestry, treesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth care costs and insuranceInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedical researchMedical tests and diagnostic methodsWorker safety and health
COVID–19 as a Presumptive Disease in Wildland Firefighters Act
USA116th CongressS-3910| Senate
| Updated: 6/8/2020
COVID-19 as a Presumptive Disease in Wildland Firefighters Act This bill entitles federal wildland firefighters who contract COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to federal workers' compensation benefits and also establishes certain testing and screening requirements for such firefighters during the wildfire season (May 15-November 15, 2020). Specifically, the bill provides that if a federal wildland firefighter exhibits specified symptoms, tests positive, or is otherwise determined by a physician as likely having COVID-19 during the wildfire season or during a specific wildfire (or in the following 28 days), the firefighter is presumed to have incurred an injury while on duty that qualifies for workers' compensation benefits. Additionally, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture must ensure that all of their firefighters are tested for COVID-19 or related symptoms, or self-quarantine for at least 14 days with no symptoms, before the wildfire season or before responding to a wildfire.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Government Operations and Politics
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Administrative remediesCardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelForests, forestry, treesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth care costs and insuranceInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedical researchMedical tests and diagnostic methodsWorker safety and health