N.Y. bill would provide COVID-19 death benefits

New York lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill that would create death benefits on presumption for public employees who died from COVID-19.

S.B. 4399 establishes the presumption for a worker who was “required to physically report to work” as of March 1, 2020, and contracted COVID-19. The presumption would apply when “the applicable head of the member’s retirement system or such system’s medical board determines COVID-19 to have been a significant contributing factor in the member’s death.”

The bill was referred to the Senate Labor Committee.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.