Bill > H2320

This bill proposes to amend existing law to include certain blood-borne infectious diseases as conditions that are presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty for police officers and firefighters, which can impact their eligibility for death and disability benefits. Specifically, it adds a new section to Chapter 32 of the General Laws that would cover uniformed members of paid fire departments, permanent members of police departments (including park police), state police, public works building police, certain employees in correctional facilities who handle prisoners, and specific airport and military reservation fire department personnel. The bill defines "blood-borne infectious disease" to include HIV, AIDS, and all strains of hepatitis. For these conditions to be presumed line-of-duty related, the individual must have successfully passed a physical examination upon entering service or subsequently, and that examination must not have revealed any evidence of the disease at that time. This presumption can only be overcome by competent evidence proving otherwise, providing a crucial protection for these public servants who may be exposed to such diseases through their work.