Presumption Bills Fail, but Governor May Set Up Fund for Sickened Workers

Three weeks after the Kansas attorney general shot down a state agency's attempt to provide a COVID-19 presumption for essential workers, Democratic lawmakers tried but failed to pass bills that would have codified a presumption. Now the measures appear dead until early 2021, the next regular session of the Kansas Legislature. “It wasn't a good year for Democrats this year,” said state Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita, who introduced HB 2007 last week. “But we'll be back next year with better numbers and with better data on COVID.” Ward's bill, along with...