GLI has joined a coalition of organizations throughout the Commonwealth to support liability protections for employers from COVID-19 related lawsuits. Kentucky State Senate President Robert Stivers has filed Senate Bill 5, which would provide an important layer of liability protections for businesses that follow appropriate guidelines to protect their employees, customers, and partners from the COVID-19 virus.

This legislation is critical for protecting jobs and advancing Kentucky’s economic recovery. Opportunistic litigation is already being pursued in other states throughout the country, threatening to slow down the nation’s recovery. Numerous states have already taken action to establish protections for responsible employers, including neighboring states like Tennessee and Ohio.

Senate Bill 5 would protect:

• Individuals who own, lease, manage or control a facility that the public enters to obtain goods, services or conduct activities
• Public and private schools, churches, entertainment and sports venues, government agencies and homeowners
• Individuals and businesses called into public service because they were deemed “life sustaining” with the same immunity that other state agents enjoy.

Senate Bill 5 would NOT provide protection for any business or other organization that acts in a malicious or grossly negligent way to ignore executive orders or guidance.

The coalition in support of Senate Bill 5 includes businesses organizations, industry groups, and city and county advocacy groups.

GLI is also working to support COVID liability protection legislation in Indiana.