I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6844 
To provide expanded unemployment protection for employees and a limitation 
on liability for employers with respect to exposure to COVID-19. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 12, 2020 
Mr. TURNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education 
and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide expanded unemployment protection for employees 
and a limitation on liability for employers with respect 
to exposure to COVID-19. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Employer and Em-
ployee COVID Protection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY FOR EMPLOYERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b) an employer may not be held liable in any cause of 
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action before a State or Federal court for any injury that 
resulted from an employee contracting COVID-19. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply if 
the employer violates State or Federal Law related to 
workplace safety. 
(c) EMPLOYEE CONCERNS ABOUT RESUMING
OR 
CONTINUING EMPLOYMENT.— 
(1) An employee may inform their employer of 
any health concerns the employee has regarding re-
suming or continuing employment after the head of 
the State in which the employee works has issued an 
order declaring that business operation may resume. 
(2) RESPONSE FROM EMPLOYER.—An employer 
that is informed of a concern under paragraph (1) 
may— 
(A) install additional protective equipment; 
(B) adjust the work environment to the 
unique concerns of the covered employee; or 
(C) find alternative suitable employment, 
as defined by State law, for the covered em-
ployee. 
(3) UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.—With respect 
to an employee that informs their employer of con-
cerns as described in paragraph (1) and is 
unsatisfied with the response from their employer as 
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described in paragraph (2), such employee may ter-
minate their employment and have such termination 
be considered ‘‘through no fault of their own’’ for 
purposes of determining eligibility for State and 
Federal unemployment benefits. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
upon the date of the enactment of this Act and applies 
if the injury resulting from the employee contracting 
COVID-19 occurred after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVID-19.—The term ‘‘COVID-19’’ means 
the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019–nCoV. 
(2) EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘employee’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3 of the Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 
652(3)). 
(3) EMPLOYER.—The term ‘‘employer’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3 of the Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 
652(3)). 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ shall include 
the District of Columbia, and all territories of the 
United States. 
Æ 
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