Bill > S1882

This bill modifies existing disability laws for call, volunteer, reserve, and auxiliary firefighters and emergency medical personnel (EMTs) by changing how disability payments are calculated. Currently, disability payments for these first responders may vary, but this bill standardizes the compensation to ensure that if a call, volunteer, reserve, or auxiliary firefighter or EMT becomes incapacitated in the line of duty, they will receive disability payments equal to the annual entry-level income for all occupations in Massachusetts, as determined by the state's Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This means that instead of potentially receiving lower disability payments, these volunteer first responders will now be guaranteed a standard baseline income level if they are disabled while performing their critical community service. The bill amends two specific sections of Massachusetts General Laws (Chapter 41, Sections 111F and 111M) to implement these changes, which aim to provide more equitable financial protection for volunteer emergency service workers.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1882