St. Cloud Sun

Minnesota Sen. Jeff Howe is working on several bills to help ensure first responders and health care workers in the state receive workers' compensation benefits. 

The bills, several proposed by both the Senate and House, are aimed at providing health care workers and first responders workers' compensation if they are to become infected with COVID-19 while at work. 

“Protecting Minnesota’s first responders and healthcare professionals is the right thing to do, as they are our front-line defense in the pandemic,” Howe said in a statement. “While we agree with the overall concept of expanding workers compensation to ensure there are no gaps in coverage for these folks, we believe in the process and want to work towards a legislative solution that hears from all stakeholders and produces better results than another executive order.”

Since many businesses in the state are remaining open, it could be difficult to prove whether a first responder or health worker contracted the coronavirus while at work. 

Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler said in a statement that first responders would have to prove that they contracted COVID in the workplace, as if anybody could step forward and prove where exactly they contracted this disease. 

According to Twin Cities Pioneer Press, first responders are also pushing for workers' compensation in the case they contract the virus. 

Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters Association President Chris Parsons said Gov. Tim Walz needs to pass an executive order to help first responders. 

“These are not normal times. This is a crisis and in crisis we need decisive action and we need to stand up for the men and women that are on the front lines protecting the public," Parsons told Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

In St. Paul, there have been 75 firefighters who reported potential exposure to the coronavirus while working, Roy Mokosso, Deputy Fire Chief, said in a statement. 

Officers in the St. Paul Police Department are also being exposed to the virus and one sergeant was confirmed to have COVID-19. 

“I don’t mind being sick, but I’m infuriated that perhaps someone else’s negligence may have caused me to get sick — which caused my family to worry and to be quarantined,” the sergeant wrote in an email to the department. “Please remember how easily this virus infects, even when an individual does not have symptoms. Protect yourself, protect each other, protect your families, and protect the untold thousands of people connected to them.”

But lawmakers aren't settling for a solution that easily. Howe said he will continue to work with other lawmakers to find a proposal that will help these first responders and health care workers. 

“Rep. Tim O’Driscoll and I have been working closely with stakeholders to find a solution and are close to reaching an agreement,” Howe said in a statement. “We all want emergency workers to be safe and protected during this pandemic and appreciate the work they are doing to keep us safe.”