A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending the workers' compensation law to provide occupational disease coverage for first responders and health care workers who contract Coronavirus.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 97‑53 reads as rewritten:
"§ 97‑53.  Occupational diseases and conditions enumerated.
The following diseases and conditions only shall be deemed to be occupational diseases within the meaning of this Article:
…
(30)	Coronavirus infection contracted by a covered person. – The following rules apply in determining eligibility for compensation under this subdivision:
a.	The term "covered person," as used in this subdivision means (i) a law enforcement officer, jailer, prison guard, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or paramedic employed by a State or local government, including a volunteer firefighter meeting the requirement of G.S. 58‑84‑5(3a) or (ii) a health care worker.
b.	The term "coronavirus" as used in this subdivision has the same meaning as defined in section 506 of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law No. 116‑123.
c.	A coronavirus infection contracted by a covered person shall be presumed to be due to exposure in the course of the covered person's employment. The presumption may only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to claims for workers' compensation benefits filed on or after that date.