Bill would protect school districts from lawsuits over coronavirus

Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, who chairs the Assembly Education Committee, introduced a bill Monday to address one of school districts’ biggest worries as they plan for a return to school: fear of getting sued over a coronavirus infection.

Assembly Bill 1384 would provide limited liability protections for K-12 schools. It would not affect workers’ compensation claims by employees or apply to claims for money or damages for gross negligence or for reckless, intentional, or willful and wanton misconduct, according to O’Donnell, D-Long Beach.

“We need to provide clarity and reduce uncertainty for school districts as they navigate the patchwork of state, federal and public health COVID-19 rules,” O’Donnell said in a statement. “We cannot divert scarce resources for instruction, meals and other student needs for legal bills or let schools become cash cows for lawyers.”

Legislators will hear the bill when they return from summer recess.