The Oklahoma Senate has approved legislation giving liability relief to essential businesses and those working to safely reopen, as well as a measure protecting manufacturers and people who make or donate materials related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A previously passed bill that extends limited liability to healthcare providers and facilities has been signed into law, according to the Senate’s media release.
Senate Bill 1946, by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, was approved on May 11 and provides civil liability protection for businesses safely reopening while acting in accordance with government guidance or those operating as a government-directed essential business during the state of emergency.
Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, presented the measure to the full Senate.
Senate Bill 1947, also by Treat and McCall, was approved on May 12. It provides lawsuit protections to those who manufacture or donate materials needed in response to the virus. Daniels also presented the bill on the floor.
Daniels said the liability protection strikes a good balance between protecting the good actors who have stepped up to help Oklahoma respond to COVID-19 and leaving out potential bad actors who intentionally sold defective products.
Both measures now move to the House of Representatives.
Last week, Daniels won Senate approval for a measure limiting liability for healthcare providers and facilities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SB 300, authored by Daniels and Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, was signed into law by the governor Tuesday, May 12. The measure provides immunity to a healthcare facility or healthcare provider from civil liability for any alleged loss or harm to a person with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, unless the act or omission was the result of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
Source: Oklahoma Senate
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
U.S. Auto Insurers’ Strong Performance to Continue Through 2025: Fitch 
Hard Reinsurance Prices Likely to Last Longer Than in Previous Market Cycles: Report 
Allstate to Sell Employer Voluntary Benefits Business to StanCorp for $2 Billion 
Downward Spiral: Florida Insurance Agent Charged with Embezzlement After Lawsuits 
