SAFE TO WORK Act
Latest action · Dec 2, 2020 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedDec 2, 2020
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Safeguarding America's Frontline Employees To Offer Work Opportunities Required to Kickstart the Economy Act or the SAFE TO WORK Act
This bill limits liability for injuries related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
Generally, an individual alleging harm from exposure to coronavirus or related medical treatment occurring before October 1, 2024, may sue only under the causes of action created by this bill, with limited exceptions. However, the bill does not preempt any law that imposes stricter limits on liability or otherwise provides greater protections to defendants.
An individual or entity engaged in business or other activities may be liable for injuries resulting from coronavirus exposure only if the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the defendant did not make reasonable efforts to comply with government standards and guidance, (2) the defendant's actions constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct, and (3) actual exposure caused the plaintiff's injury. (The clear and convincing evidence standard is a higher standard of proof than is typically required in a civil action.)
Similarly, a health care provider may be liable for injuries connected to coronavirus-related services only if the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the provider's actions constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct, and (2) such actions directly caused the injury.
The bill also contains various coronavirus-related protections for defendants, including protections that (1) exempt an employer or operator of public accommodations that meets certain requirements from liability under certain federal laws, (2) impose limitations on coronavirus-related class action lawsuits, and (3) limit liability for certain injuries related to workplace coronavirus testing.
Cosponsors
Members who signed on, in the order they did.
Committees 3
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Judiciary Committee | Referred Dec 2, 2020 |
| House | Education and Workforce Committee | Referred Dec 2, 2020 |
| House | Energy and Commerce Committee | Referred Dec 2, 2020 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Dec 2, 2020Introduced in House
- Dec 2, 2020Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 203, December 2, 2020, page H6046.
CRS reports 1
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 1
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| IF11976 | Multidistrict and Multicircuit Litigation: Coordinating Related Federal Cases | Resource | Nov 17, 2021 |
Related bills 3
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 4317 | SAFE TO WORK Act | Identical bill | Jul 27, 2020 |
| S 4537 | RECOVERY Act | Related bill | Sep 8, 2020 |
| S 4775 | Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act | Related bill | Oct 1, 2020 |
Titles 3
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To lessen the burdens on interstate commerce by discouraging insubstantial lawsuits relating to COVID-19 while preserving the ability of individuals and businesses that have suffered real injury to obtain complete relief.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- SAFE TO WORK Act
- Safeguarding America’s Frontline Employees To Offer Work Opportunities Required to Kickstart the Economy Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Law.
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Cardiovascular and respiratory health
- Civil actions and liability
- Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
- Emergency medical services and trauma care
- Evidence and witnesses
- Federal district courts
- Federal preemption
- Federal-Indian relations
- Health care quality
- Health personnel
- Health technology, devices, supplies
- Infectious and parasitic diseases
- Judicial procedure and administration
- Jurisdiction and venue
- Law
- Legal fees and court costs
- Medical tests and diagnostic methods
- Product safety and quality
- Self-employed
- State and local government operations
- Worker safety and health
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Dec 2, 2020Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
