Well, according to California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, and Executive Order N-62-20 he recently signed, any COVID-19-related illness of an employee shall be presumed to arise out of and in the course of employment for purposes of awarding workers’ compensation benefits. COVID-19 and Your Rights Under California's Workers' Compensation System . The order streamlines workers’ compensation claims and establishes a rebuttable presumption that any essential workers infected with COVID-19 … Workers' Compensation Program. On September 17, 2020, Governor Newsom signed SB 1159 and it goes into effect immediately. DWC Posts ACOEM’s Coronavirus COVID-19 Guideline on MTUS May 20, 2020: DWC, WCAB Update Forms to Identify Injuries Related to COVID-19 May 19, 2020: DWC Emergency Rulemaking Regulations for Medical-Legal Reporting in Response to COVID-19 are in Effect May 14, 2020: DWC Cancels 27th Annual Educational Conference in Los Angeles May 12, 2020 On September 17, 2020, California Governor Newsom signed into law SB 1159, which presumes employees who test positive for COVID-19 contracted the virus at work for purposes of workers’ compensation eligibility if an outbreak occurs at work and certain conditions are met. California companies must warn workers of any potential exposure to COVID-19 and pay workers compensation benefits if employees get sick. Workers' Compensation Basic Communication; ... COVID-19 Updates for State Workers The State of California continues to act to protect public health and safety as we respond to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Basically, the California Governor flipped the script on the burden of proof, so that employee workers’ compensation claims related to COVID-19 are presumed to be covered. Employees in California may be entitled to workers’ compensation if they test positive for COVID-19 or if their place of employment experiences an “outbreak” of COVID-19 as defined by legislation signed into law Sept. 17 by Gov. COVID-Specific Workers’ Compensation Presumption Law Goes Into Effect September 17. There is a lot of misinformation concerning COVID-19 when it comes to workers who may have contracted the … The California Workers' Compensation Institute was incorporated in 1964 as a private, nonprofit organization of insurers and self-insured employers dedicated to improving the California workers' compensation system through research, education, information and representation. This bill adopts a COVID-19 specific presumption in the workers’ compensation system for employees that test positive for COVID-19. Gavin Newsom. The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California estimated that COVID-19 claims will cost employers and insurers around $2 billion.