Bills Propose COVID-19 Presumption, Benefit Increase

An Alaska lawmaker introduced legislation that would resurrect a presumption that COVID-19 is an occupational disease for some workers, and increase death benefits and benefits for permanent partial impairment. Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, prefiled House Bill 45, which would create a presumption that COVID-19 is compensable for emergency medical technicians, firefighters, health care providers, paramedics, peace officers, workers at child care facilities, grocery store workers, teachers and anyone “who performs services that the commissio...