HB 949 Summary

• Amends Florida Statutes Section 112.181 to expand the definition of "infectious disease" to include any disease declared a public health emergency by the state, extending presumption protections beyond hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, and tuberculosis.

• Establishes a presumption that emergency rescue and public safety workers (firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, law enforcement, and correctional officers) who contract covered infectious diseases in the line of duty are entitled to workers' compensation benefits for total or partial disability or death.

• Requires workers to submit written affidavits verifying they were not exposed to the disease outside their employment and did not engage in high-risk behaviors, with different verification requirements depending on the disease type.

• Makes immunization or prophylaxis mandatory when medically indicated and FDA-approved, with workers who refuse without a physician's written exemption becoming ineligible for presumption benefits.

• Takes effect July 1, 2021.