CT HB05871

Establishes workers' compensation eligibility for uniformed members of paid municipal or volunteer fire departments for diseases including hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, and tuberculosis arising out of employment.

Creates a presumption that certain cancers (Kahler's Disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and cancers affecting brain, skin, skeletal, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, lymphatic, reproductive, urinary, and hematological systems) suffered by firefighters resulted from occupational exposure to noxious fumes, poisonous gases, heat, radiation, or known carcinogens.

Requires three conditions for cancer presumption eligibility: passage of a pre-employment physical examination showing no cancer, at least five years of service at a fire department, and medical determination that the cancer is known to result from occupational exposures.

Extends eligibility to former firefighters who are no longer actively serving but may apply within five years of their last service date.

Permits annual physical examinations as a condition of receiving benefits and becomes effective October 1, 2015.