[Wsssc] FW: WSSSC Follow Up -- ATC

Mon Oct 24 12:39:53 PDT 2022

WSSSC: here is more information from AAG Aileen Miller on the question about HELSA and frontline employees, below.

Joe

[Compass]
Joe Holliday
Director, Student Services
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
jholliday at sbctc.edu<mailto:jholliday at sbctc.edu>* o: 360-704-4334 * f: 360-704-4418
sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> * Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> * Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

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From: Miller, Aileen B (ATG) <aileen.miller at atg.wa.gov>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 12:36 PM
To: Joe Holliday <jholliday at sbctc.edu>
Subject: RE: WSSSC Follow Up -- ATC

Hi Joe,

Here is the answer to the question about HELSA and frontline employees.

Last week, I was asked whether faculty qualify as frontline workers who can submit for workers compensation if they contract COVID.
The answer to this question is probably. Under RCW 51.32.181, during a public health emergency, any infectious or contagious disease transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols or surface contact is presumed to be an occupational disease for "frontline employees."  This presumption is rebuttable through evidence that the disease was contracted outside of the workplace.
Public health emergency is linked to a declaration of statewide emergency by the Governor, or the President of the United States. So, Governor Inslee's termination of the public health emergency doesn't alter the application of this provision, as long as there is a federal declaration of emergency in effect.
The definition of frontline employee includes:
Educational employees, including classroom teachers, paraeducators, principals, librarians, school bus drivers, and other educational support staff, of any school district, or a contractor of a school district, that are required to be physically present at a school or on the grounds of a school where classes are being taught in person, in a transportation vehicle necessary for school operations, or in the home of a student as part of their job duties, if the employee has in-person interaction with students, a student's family members, or other employees as part of their job duties
As written, educational employees clearly includes K-12 school district employees. It is less clear whether it includes faculty. However, the broad term "educational employees" and descriptions about in-person interaction with students as part of job duties, could easily encompass higher education faculty. This argument is strengthened by Labor and Industries' guidance which states that frontline employees include "certain school district and higher education employees."
https://lni.wa.gov/agency/outreach/common-questions-about-presumptive-coverage-for-health-care-and-frontline-workers

From: Miller, Aileen B (ATG) <aileen.miller at atg.wa.gov<mailto:aileen.miller at atg.wa.gov>>
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2022 5:54 PM
To: Joe Holliday <jholliday at sbctc.edu<mailto:jholliday at sbctc.edu>>
Subject: WSSSC Follow Up -- ATC

Hi Joe,
Thanks for forwarding the information below to the WSSSC members. I am still looking into the ability of faculty to submit a workers compensation claim under the auspices of a front line employee.
Labor and Industries
The following Labor and Industry laws and regulations apply during a public health emergency, which is defined to include a federal declaration of a public health emergency, so the requirements continue to be in effect.
*         RCW 49.17.062<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2FRCW%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fcite%3D49.17.062&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Zkjmh6eEUVIhL7vcdxBBsKt7PHk%2Blrii%2FuG7K7NzzkU%3D&reserved=0> requires employers to:
*         Report positive tests to L&I when 10 or more employees have tested positive for an infectious or contagious disease
*         Prohibits discharge of high risk employees; and accommodation that protects the employee from risk of exposure to the infectious or contagious disease
*         RCW 49.17.064<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2FRCW%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fcite%3D49.17.064&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1lBxrysuFtUfFcSp5GKbPpNECOQDmEgIn%2BW6opR7EuQ%3D&reserved=0>  requires employers to:
*         Provide written notice to all employees and subcontracted employees who were on the premises at the same worksite of a potential exposure to an infectious or contagious disease.
*         Provide notice to the union, if applicable.
*         WAC 296-62-601 through 606 (linked to public health emergency)
*         RCW 49.17.485<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.leg.wa.gov%2FRCW%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fcite%3D49.17.485&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BaVNIT3us%2Byqs%2BEvvmHxbz08vkAQdvyLlUZ448R1QHM%3D&reserved=0> - employer cannot interfere with the use of personal protective equipment during a public health emergency
*         WAC 296-62-607 to 609.

Clery
The Clery Act outbreak notification requirements that I mentioned are found in 34 CFR 668.46(e)(3) and (g)(1) under the emergency notification procedures required when there is a "significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus." Examples provided in the Clery Handbook have included outbreaks if serious illness.

(e) Timely warning and emergency notification.
(1) An institution must, in a manner that is timely and that withholds as confidential the names and other identifying information of victims, as defined in section 40002(a)(20) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Ftopn%2Fviolence_against_women_act_of_1994&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HZw4hTJuTzsVp%2Fr5XRpN6JBKeyDzBaYZs3Z7DdNj3%2FU%3D&reserved=0> (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)(20)<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fuscode%2Ftext%2F42%2F13925&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=40R2w5qkKkyK83Mmde9FVYIMJIqrgeTB6lGWyxXu30c%3D&reserved=0>), and that will aid in the prevention of similar crimes, report to the campus community on crimes that are -
(i) Described in paragraph (c)(1)<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fcfr%2Ftext%2F34%2F668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zkWZ11TKw2vlD1ntbWPK5r5Y1nVeh2hpRFzA9EoTy6I%3D&reserved=0> of this section;
(ii) Reported to campus security authorities as identified under the institution's statement of current campus policies pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fcfr%2Ftext%2F34%2F668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zkWZ11TKw2vlD1ntbWPK5r5Y1nVeh2hpRFzA9EoTy6I%3D&reserved=0> of this section or local police agencies; and
(iii) Considered by the institution to represent a threat to students and employees.
(2) An institution is not required to provide a timely warning with respect to crimes reported to a pastoral or professional counselor.
(3) If there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus, as described in paragraph (g)(1)<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fcfr%2Ftext%2F34%2F668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zkWZ11TKw2vlD1ntbWPK5r5Y1nVeh2hpRFzA9EoTy6I%3D&reserved=0> of this section, an institution must follow its emergency notification procedures<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fdefinitions%2Findex.php%3Fwidth%3D840%26height%3D800%26iframe%3Dtrue%26def_id%3D3925690f958df283aa222e364153c1bd%26term_occur%3D999%26term_src%3DTitle%3A34%3ASubtitle%3AB%3AChapter%3AVI%3APart%3A668%3ASubpart%3AD%3A668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RV5x2VLnKU7NGYQkfS2uY9otw4Z8U4rnZc1CQi%2F3RZk%3D&reserved=0>. An institution that follows its emergency notification procedures<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fdefinitions%2Findex.php%3Fwidth%3D840%26height%3D800%26iframe%3Dtrue%26def_id%3D3925690f958df283aa222e364153c1bd%26term_occur%3D999%26term_src%3DTitle%3A34%3ASubtitle%3AB%3AChapter%3AVI%3APart%3A668%3ASubpart%3AD%3A668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RV5x2VLnKU7NGYQkfS2uY9otw4Z8U4rnZc1CQi%2F3RZk%3D&reserved=0> is not required to issue a timely warning based on the same circumstances; however, the institution must provide adequate follow-up information to the community as needed.
. . .
(g) Emergency response and evacuation procedures. An institution must include a statement of policy regarding its emergency response and evacuation procedures<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fdefinitions%2Findex.php%3Fwidth%3D840%26height%3D800%26iframe%3Dtrue%26def_id%3D3925690f958df283aa222e364153c1bd%26term_occur%3D999%26term_src%3DTitle%3A34%3ASubtitle%3AB%3AChapter%3AVI%3APart%3A668%3ASubpart%3AD%3A668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624159978252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RV5x2VLnKU7NGYQkfS2uY9otw4Z8U4rnZc1CQi%2F3RZk%3D&reserved=0> in the annual security report. This statement must include -
(1) The procedures<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fdefinitions%2Findex.php%3Fwidth%3D840%26height%3D800%26iframe%3Dtrue%26def_id%3D3925690f958df283aa222e364153c1bd%26term_occur%3D999%26term_src%3DTitle%3A34%3ASubtitle%3AB%3AChapter%3AVI%3APart%3A668%3ASubpart%3AD%3A668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624160134775%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6ezTRRaje4foW%2FqgkFLUWbOueMSIhlllYayzy3HpJ9M%3D&reserved=0> the institution will use to immediately notify the campus community upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on the campus;
(2) A description of the process the institution will use to -
(i) Confirm that there is a significant emergency or dangerous situation as described in paragraph (g)(1)<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fcfr%2Ftext%2F34%2F668.46&data=05%7C01%7Caileen.miller%40atg.wa.gov%7C68815b1525d74f7bb41f08dab377bec5%7C2cc5baaf3b9742c9bcb8392cad34af3f%7C0%7C0%7C638019624160134775%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6mwqjALlTcDP9oxnSNdhfBgNtPLfB32RZ0t7gXMlSrk%3D&reserved=0> of this section;
(ii) Determine the appropriate segment or segments of the campus community to receive a notification;
(iii) Determine the content of the notification; and
(iv) Initiate the notification system.

Let me know if you have any questions.
Aileen

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