Adjusted from 10 June 2020:California will extend the measure that relaxed the burden of proof to receive workers' compensation benefits for some employees who contract COVID-19 on the job under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Thursday.

Senate Bill 1159 by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) makes it easier for police, firefighters and other essential employees who contract COVID-19 while working to be covered under the state’s workers’ compensation program. In other workplaces — both public and private — the new law presumes employees caught the novel coronavirus on the job if there is an outbreak at their worksite, ensuring those employees are eligible to have their medical bills and lost wages covered.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in May easing workers’ comp restrictions for all employees required to work outside the home, but those changes expired on July 5. SB 1159 is retroactive to July 6 and expires in 2023.