Bill > H2846

This bill amends Massachusetts law to create a presumption that certain contagious diseases causing disability or death for full-time uniformed police, fire, or emergency medical service personnel are considered to have been suffered in the line of duty. Specifically, if an employee passes a physical examination upon entry into service that does not reveal a pre-existing condition, and they later develop a qualifying contagious disease, it will be presumed work-related unless evidence proves otherwise. The bill covers diseases that can result from exposure to blood and bodily fluids, excluding the common cold, and explicitly includes COVID-19, Hepatitis A, B, and C, Tuberculosis, HIV, and other contagious diseases deemed statistically significant to these professions by the public health commissioner. To be eligible, the employee must have regularly responded to service calls, and they can apply for benefits within five years of their last active service date, with potential retroactive compensation to their last date of regular pay. The bill does not prevent members from seeking benefits through other existing provisions, providing additional protection and support for public service workers who contract serious contagious diseases during their professional duties.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2846