Title
AN ACT CONCERNING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS for the purpose of amending the Code to provide for a medical presumption of occupational disease for Volunteer Firefighters and a Blanket Life and Accident Insurance Policy, increasing death benefits, and generally relating to benefits for members of the County’s volunteer fire departments and rescue squads.
Background
Pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, Labor and Employment Article, Title 9. Workers Compensation, volunteer firefighters similar to paid firefighters are presumed to have an occupational disease that was suffered in the line of duty and is compensable if it falls within a certain category, i.e. heart disease, hypertension, etc. Currently, the County only provides for a medical presumption for career firefighters if they have a condition or impairment of health that falls within a certain category similar to the State law. The proposed legislation will provide for a medical presumption of occupational disease for volunteer firefighters.
10/17/2017: Prior to introduction CB-3-2017 (DR-3) was amended on the floor as follows:
1. On page 2, line 30 delete “Any condition or impairment of health” and insert “The death”.
2. On page 3, line 2 delete “resulting in total or partial disability or death”; on line 3 delete “disability”; on lines 5 and 6 delete “condition or impairment” and insert “death”; on line 7 after “who” delete “has”; on line 12 insert “This Subsection shall only extend medical presumption to the County death benefit outlined in Section 11-329(b), and shall not be applied to Maryland Workers’ Compensation Law for disability benefits.”
3. On pages 2 and 3, remove Subsections (c) and (f) from Section 11-327 and insert language into Section 11-329.
CB-3-2017 (DR-4) was introduced.