H.R. 6509 Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020
Currently Nadler discussing his bill on the Floor.
LEO to receive death & disablity benefits due to covid-19 exposure.
LEO are state and local employees and yet proposes the benefits be provided at federal level.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6509
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
provide public safety officer death and disability benefits for certain
public safety officers who contract COVID-19, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Public Safety Officer Pandemic
Response Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. DEATH AND DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS
IMPACTED BY COVID-19.
Section 1201 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of
1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
``(o) For purposes of this part:
``(1) COVID-19 shall be presumed to constitute a personal
injury within the meaning of subsection (a), sustained in the
line of duty by a public safety officer and directly and
proximately resulting in death, unless such officer was not on
duty during the 45-day period prior to being diagnosed with
COVID-19.
``(2) The Attorney General shall accept claims, including
supplemental claims, under this section from an individual
who–
``(A) was serving as a public safety officer and
was injured or disabled in the line of duty as a result
of the terrorist attacks on the United States that
occurred on September 11, 2001, or in the aftermath of
such attacks developed a condition described in section
3312(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300mm-22(a)); and
``(B) was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the period
described in paragraph (3), which, in combination with
the injury or disability described in subparagraph (A),
permanently and totally disabled or directly and
proximately resulted in the death of the individual.
In assessing a claim under this paragraph, the presumption of
causation described in paragraph (1) shall apply.
``(3) The presumption described in paragraph (1) shall
apply with respect to a diagnosis of COVID-19 beginning on
January 20, 2020, and ending on the date that is one year after
the emergency period (as such term is defined in section
1135(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)))
based on the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
``(p) In determining whether the personal injury resulting from
COVID-19 was a catastrophic injury, the Attorney General's inquiry
shall be limited to whether the individual is permanently prevented
from performing any gainful work as a public safety officer.''.
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