OLYMPIA — A bill sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, helping health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic took effect immediately upon Gov. Jay Inslee’s signing of the measure May 12.

The law created by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5190 will extend unemployment-insurance eligibility to health-care workers who must leave work to quarantine during a public-health emergency.

It also will provide presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for health-care workers who contract the disease that is the subject of a public-health emergency.

“I’m glad the governor...