HB4598 Summary

• Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act to expand the definition of "fire fighter" to include paramedics employed by a unit of local government who perform paramedic duties.

• Amends the Public Employee Disability Act to include firefighters employed as paramedics or who perform paramedic duties in the definition of "eligible employee" for disability benefits.

• Allows paramedics employed by local government units to participate in collective bargaining and labor relations protections previously available only to traditional firefighters.

• Extends workers' compensation and disability insurance benefits to paramedics employed by local government who suffer job-related injuries.