Bill Text - HB1113 (2020)

Relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.


Revision: Dec. 2, 2019, 9:45 a.m.

HB 1113-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2055

01/10

 

HOUSE BILL 1113-FN

 

AN ACT relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Horn, Merr. 2

 

COMMITTEE: Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill repeals the length of time the presumption of heart or lung disease is occupationally related for firefighters.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2055

01/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Repeal.  RSA 281-A:17, I(c), relative to the length of time the presumption of heart or lung disease in members of fire departments is occupationally related, is repealed.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBAO

20-2055

11/4/19

 

HB 1113-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to workers' compensation for heart and lung disease in firefighters.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [ X ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

  [    ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Fire and EMS Fund

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTY:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill repeals the length of time limitation on the presumption that heart or lung disease is occupationally related for firefighters.  

 

The Department of Safety indicates this change would increase the potential for continuation of current claims being paid and make new claims possible.  The costs related to the increased claims cannot be determined, but would impact state, county and local expenditures for workers compensation.

 

The New Hampshire Municipal Association indicates this bill would lead to more claims for workers' compensation and increased workers' compensation rates for municipalities.  The Association has no information that could be used to estimate the potential increase in municipal expenditures.  There would be no impact on municipal revenues.

 

The Department of Labor does not anticipate the bill would impact state, county or local revenues.  The Department assumes extention of the presumption that heart or lung disease in firefighters is occupationally related could lead to additional expenditures, particularly at the county and local levels, for workers' compensation premiums and coverage.  Such costs cannot be determined because there is no way to predict the increase in claims.  

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

New Hampshire Municipal Association and Departments of Safety and Labor