Action Alert: Oppose HB 5028 (Jones)
Please contact your Delegate and ask them to oppose HB 5028
(Jones). If passed, this legislation would create a presumption that COVID-19
is an occupational disease for school board employees. While VSBA is
sensitive to our teachers’ concerns about potential exposure, creating a
presumption that COVID-19 is an occupational disease goes too far.
VSBA opposes this legislation because it is an unfunded mandate
that has a potential $80 million dollar price tag for local school divisions.
If passed, this legislation will increase legal and administrative burdens on
local school boards at a time when budgets are severely strained due to the
impact of COVID-19 on the economy.
Schools have been closed since mid-March and most schools remain
closed to in-person instruction. Thus, a presumption that a teacher who
contracts COVID-19 contracted it at work is nonsensical in the context of remote
learning. Moreover, the retroactive nature of this bill to January 1,
2020 is very problematic.
VSBA asks that you contact your Delegate and urge them to Oppose House Bill 5028.
Click here to find
your Delegate!
