SB424 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Sanford

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Bill HoltzclawClay ScofieldJ.T. WaggonerTammy IronsRusty GloverRodger SmithermanPaul BussmanRoger Bedford, Jr.Gerald H. AllenCam WardJerry L. FieldingShadrack McGillGerald O. DialJimmy Holley

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Firefighters, death or disability for occupational disease for firefighters, no time limitation upon filing a claim for disability benefits, may resubmit claims under certain conditions, Secs. 11-43-144, 36-30-5, 36-30-20, 36-30-22, 36-30-40, 36-30-41 am'd.

Summary

SB424 would remove time limits for filing disability or death benefits for firefighters and law enforcement officers with occupational diseases and allow resubmission of previously denied claims, with disease definitions and presumptions.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the time limit for filing disability or death benefits for firefighters and law enforcement officers and their families, with some exceptions. If a claim is filed more than 10 years after the last day of employment, the claimant must show the disability or death was caused by the occupational disease during service. Claims must still be filed within two years of when the claim accrues. People who were previously denied because they filed after leaving the job can resubmit under the amended rules without regard to the old time limits.

Who It Affects

• Firefighters and their families: no time limit for disability/death claims and potential eligibility for resubmitted denied claims; diseases include cancer, heart disease, hypertension, respiratory disease, AIDS, HIV, and hepatitis.
• Law enforcement officers and their families: same protections as firefighters, with similar disease definitions and filing/approval rules.

Key Provisions

• No time limit for disability or death benefits for firefighters (and their families) and for law enforcement officers (and their families), with exceptions if more than 10 years have passed since last day of employment and a proximate-cause showing is required.
• Claims must be filed within two years of accrual.
• Claimants denied previously for filing after leaving the job may resubmit claims under the amended sections without regard to prior time limits.
• Occupational disease definitions expanded to include hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer linked to carcinogen exposure (presumed to arise from employment unless proven otherwise), AIDS, HIV, and hepatitis, with specific proof requirements.
• Cancer is presumed to arise out of employment for firefighters and law enforcement officers unless the employer proves otherwise; HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis require evidence of occupational exposure, unless proven otherwise.
• The act applies to firefighters and law enforcement officers at the city (municipal), county, and state levels and becomes effective the first day of the third month after passage.

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