HB 255 Summary

• Adds cerebral vascular accident or stroke to the definition of occupational disease for municipal firefighters employed by cities.

• Extends death and disability benefits for occupational diseases to state-employed firefighters, previously only available to city-employed firefighters.

• Defines occupational diseases for both state and municipal firefighters to include hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cerebral vascular accident or stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis.

• Requires the state or municipality to prove by preponderance of evidence that a firefighter's condition was caused by means other than occupation to deny benefits.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval, with retroactive applicability to September 10, 2011.