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 legislation includes provisions for the administration of the fund, including reporting requirements and the process for claim approval. It emphasizes that the presumption of work-related causation for these diseases and conditions can only be rebutted by substantial evidence of non-work-related factors, such as significant tobacco use.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 418.405