Senate Passes Public Health Emergency Presumption

The Washington state Senate passed a bill that would create a presumption that infectious or contagious diseases are occupational conditions for frontline employees during a public health emergency. The Senate voted 48-1 on Tuesday to pass SB 5115, by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines. Frontline employers covered by the bill include first responders; hospital workers and people working at nursing homes and assisted living facilities; food processing workers; maintenance and janitorial workers; transit agency drivers; child care workers; retail store workers; restaurant workers; hotel workers; ...