Title
RESOLUTION NO. 21R-04-78: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL FLORIDA IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILL (HB 949) AND SENATE BILL (SB 1314) AMENDING THE FLORIDA STATUTES CHAPTER 112 TO EXPRESSLY ADD “INFECTIOUS DISEASE” TO THE LIST OF ENUMERATED OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES PRESUMED WITHIN THE LINE OF DUTY IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE IT IS CONTRACTED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK DURING A DECLARED PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR DENISE D. GRANT).
Body
Request Action:
Pass a Resolution in support of both HB 949 and SB 1314 which seek to amend the Florida Statutes to expressly add "infectious disease" to the list of occupational exposures presumed within the line of duty in circumstances where it was contracted within the scope of work during a declared public health emergency.
Need:
To protect all the various types of first responders by adding "infectious disease" to the list of occupational exposures presumed to be within the line of duty.
Summary Explanation/ Background:
Vice Mayor Denise D. Grant requested a Resolution supporting the passage of House Bill 949 and Senate Bill 1314 which seek to amend the Florida Statutes to expressly add "infectious disease" to the list of enumerated occupational exposures presumed to be within the line of duty in circumstances where it is contracted within the scope of work during a declared public health emergency effective commencing July 1, 2021. Sergeant Corey Pendergrass of the Lauderhill Police Department died on June 13, 2020 after contracting COVID-19 while on duty. Unfortnately, as with other police officers witihn the tri-county area who died from COVID due to expsures while on duty, the Pendergrass family was denied insurance benefits. The insurance companies in Florida have denied benefit claims and refused to provide coverage for COVID-related deaths on duty stating that infectious disease is not included within the express list of occupational exposures that are presumed t...
Click here for full text