Authorizing hearings in Council's Committee on Public Health and Human Services to assess citywide compliance of Bill No. 200306, which mandates healthcare workers receive paid leave should they become infected with the novel coronavirus.

WHEREAS, Bill No. 200306, introduced by Councilmember David Oh, established mandatory paid sick leave for all healthcare workers employed by a healthcare institution in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The legislation requires healthcare workers who contract COVID-19 to be compensated for all lost wages while sick or quarantined and reimbursed of any related medical expenses; and

WHEREAS, The bill applies to healthcare workers that report to work inside healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, as well as those that work outside brick and mortar facilities such as in-home care nurses; and

WHEREAS, The legislation was signed into law on September 9, 2020 by Mayor Kenney and has no sunset provision; and

WHEREAS, As the second wave of COVID-19 surges through Philadelphia, it is critically important for healthcare professionals to have these protections in place should they become infected; and

WHEREAS, Many healthcare professionals have reported being unaware of the protections established by Bill No. 200306, however, or told by their employer that they are ineligible to receive the benefits; and

WHEREAS, Any healthcare worker that tests positive for COVID-19 and worked for the healthcare employer at least 40 hours in the three months prior to contracting COVID-19 is eligible for the aforementioned benefits; and

WHEREAS, Healthcare professionals risk their own health, and the health of their families, each day of this pandemic in service to the public; and

WHEREAS, We must ensure all healthcare workers in Philadelphia are receiving the vital protections and benefits to which they are entitled to under the law; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, that it herby authorizes hearings in Council’s Committee on Public Health and Human Services to assess citywide compliance of Bill No. 200306, which mandates healthcare workers receive paid leave should they contract the novel coronavirus.

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