This bill proposes several updates to section 23-1105 of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding workers' compensation for firefighters. It modifies the criteria under which the presumption of occupational disease can be rebutted. Currently, the presumption can be challenged by a preponderance of the evidence that there is a specific cause of the injury, illness, or death. The bill would change this to require clear and convincing evidence that the injury was solely caused by a nonoccupational condition, which must have been diagnosed before the firefighter's employment or qualifying event, and that it was independently sufficient to cause the condition without contribution from firefighter-related duties such as physical exertion or toxic exposure.

Additionally, the bill introduces a list of factors that cannot be used as sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption, including age, family history, and lifestyle factors. It also clarifies that if a heart-related or pulmonary condition occurs while a firefighter is on duty or during related activities, it is considered an occupational disease. The bill further defines "heart-related" conditions and maintains the definition of "firefighter" as per existing law, while removing outdated language regarding tobacco exposure as a contributing cause.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 23-1105