SB464 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben H. Brooks

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Firefighters, death or disability benefits for occupational disease for state firefighters, definition of occupational diseases expanded for municipal firefighters to include a cerebral vascular accident or stroke, Sec. 11-43-144 am'd

Summary

SB464 expands firefighters' disease coverage to include stroke and extends death or disability benefits to state firefighters, with a preponderance-of-evidence standard to deny benefits.

What This Bill Does

Adds cerebral vascular accident or stroke to the municipal firefighter's occupational disease list and provides death or disability benefits for state firefighters. Requires the state or municipality to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a covered condition was caused by something other than the firefighter's occupation in order to deny benefits. Includes cancer, HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis as occupational diseases with employment-related presumptions when there is exposure, with cancer requiring proof of exposure to a known carcinogen unless rebutted. Establishes retroactive applicability to September 10, 2011 and aligns the benefit provision with benefits for line-of-duty injuries or deaths.

Who It Affects

• Municipal firefighters: gain coverage for stroke as an occupational disease and may receive death or disability benefits; benefit denials must show non-occupational causes by preponderance of the evidence; cancer exposure presumption applies.
• State firefighters: gain death or disability benefits for occupational diseases; same burden of proof to deny benefits; retroactive coverage to 9/10/2011; benefits structured similarly to line-of-duty benefits.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 11-43-144 to add cerebral vascular accident or stroke to the definition of municipal firefighter's occupational disease.
• Provides death and disability benefits for state-employed firefighters with occupational diseases.
• Requires preponderance-of-the-evidence to disqualify a firefighter from benefits for conditions including heart disease, hypertension, respiratory disease, stroke, cancer, HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis.
• Creates cancer, HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis occupational disease provisions with exposure-related presumptions; cancer presumption applies if exposed to a known carcinogen unless the employer proves otherwise; retroactive effect to September 10, 2011.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Firefighters