This bill amends the Worker's Disability Compensation Act of 1969 to expand the definition of "personal injury" for certain first responders, including full-time, part-time, or paid on-call members of fire and public safety departments, as well as county sheriffs and state police officers. The amendments specifically include respiratory and heart diseases as conditions presumed to arise from employment, and they establish a new fund, the Christopher R. Slezak first responder presumed coverage fund, to provide benefits for these conditions. The bill also outlines the process for claims against this fund, including the requirement for claimants to first apply for any available pension benefits.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that if a member or former member of a fire department or public safety authority is diagnosed with specific cancers after January 1, 2022, they may suspend their claim against their employer and instead seek benefits from the new fund. The presumption of work-related causation for these cancers can only be rebutted by substantial evidence of tobacco use. The bill mandates the creation of a structured process for managing claims, including timelines for approvals and annual reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability regarding the fund's operations and financial status.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 418.405