Special Session to Start Aug. 10

Monday, August 3, 2020 | 0

Gov. Kate Brown will call lawmakers to the Capitol next week for a special legislative session to address a $1.2 billion budget gap, according to a report by Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Gov. Kate Brown

Details of the special session, scheduled to begin Aug. 10, were still being finalized on Friday, according to the report. Immunizing employers from coronavirus lawsuits is one issue lawmakers might end up addressing.

They could also take up a proposal to create a presumption that COVID-19 is a compensable comp claim.

At the governor’s request, the state’s Management-Labor Advisory Committee met a half dozen times since March to discuss how the state’s comp system is handling COVID-19 claims and to recommend possible improvements.

The advisory panel was unable to reach an agreement on whether a presumption is necessary, but it did find common ground on a series of other recommendations.

Regarding the presumption, labor representatives said that without a one it would be difficult for people to prove they got COVID-19 at work. Employer representatives said a presumption would make it difficult for carriers to prove people didn’t get COVID-19 at work.

State lawmakers typically follow MLAC’s lead and pursue only the measures that are approved by the advisory panel, but they’re not required to do so.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports House Speaker Tina Kotek, a Portland Democrat, voiced support for a union proposal to create a COVID-19 presumption.

Democrats hold a 38-22 majority in the state House of Representatives and an 18-12 majority in the Senate. Brown is also a Democrat.