Home » Lawmakers push through bill to protect businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits

Lawmakers push through bill to protect businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits

FRANKFORT, Ky. — House Bill 10 protects businesses against civil lawsuits from someone claiming they caught COVID-19 at their business.  The bill explains that the business must still follow CDC guidelines.  It has been approved by the House and now heads to the Senate.

Some opponents fear a bill moving through the Kentucky legislature would provide immunity for businesses that fail to protect employees from COVID-19.

Kentucky House recently passed House Bill 10, which would essentially ramp up protections for businesses against civil claims from someone saying they caught COVID-19 at said establishment.

Looking at the language more specifically, the bill would “provide a defense to civil liability to a person who acts in good faith while operating a business during a state of emergency for ordinary negligence for a personal injury resulting from alleged or actual exposure to COVID-19 provided the person acts as an ordinary, reasonable, and prudent person would act under similar circumstances.”

Rep. Steve Sheldon, R- Bowling Green, said helping Kentucky find a return to normalcy is a top priority this session. He said that is a reason why he co-sponsored this bill.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 227, a union that represents many food industry workers in the state, claims this would provide too much protection for employers who fail to protect employees.

Rep. Sheldon said the bill would not provide protection to businesses that fail to protect workers. HB10 would only provide a defense to civil liability if the business acts “unreasonably.”