U.S. Senate Passes Presumption, Benefits for Virus-Stricken First Responders

The U.S. Senate has approved a measure that would create a presumption that COVID-19 illness is work-related for first responders who are disabled or die from the disease, at least through 2021. Senate Bill 3607, if passed by the House and signed into law, would make families of public safety officers who are killed or totally disabled by the virus eligible for the federal Public Safety Officers' Benefit program. The program provides a lump-sum payment of $359,316 and education assistance of $1,224 per month for spouses and children, according to a summary of the bill. The benefits progr...