HB255 Alabama 2013 Session

Under existing law, there are specific compensation provisions for the death or disability due to occupational disease of a firefighter employed by a city. However, there are no specific compensation provisions for state firefighters

Also, the term "firefighter's occupational disease" does not include cerebral vascular accident or stroke

This bill would include a cerebral vascular accident or stroke in the definition of a municipal firefighter's occupational disease

This bill also would provide death or disability benefits due to occupational disease as defined for a firefighter employed by the state

The bill would also specify that, if a firefighter suffers from heart disease, hypertension, respiratory disease, cerebral vascular accident or stroke, cancer, HIV, or hepatitis, the state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the condition was caused by some means other than the occupation to disqualify the firefighter from benefits

To amend Section 11-43-144, Code of Alabama 1975, to include a cerebral vascular accident or stroke in the definition of a municipal firefighter's occupational disease; to provide death and disability benefits due to certain occupational diseases for firefighters employed by the state; to further define firefighter's occupational disease; and to provide that the state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the condition was caused by some means other than the occupation to disqualify the firefighter from benefits.