Committee hears bill to add correctional officers to presumption of compensability

The House Industry, Business and Labor Committee heard testimony Thursday on House Bill 1060, a proposal to add Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation correctional officers to North Dakota’s presumption of compensability for lung or respiratory disease, hypertension, heart disease and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

The presumption, already in place for full‑time paid firefighters and law enforcement, would apply to correctional officers who meet the bill’s definition and other statutory conditions. Travis Engelhardt, chief human resources officer for the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, told the committee the department supports the bill and described the change as a matter of “fairness and parity.” Engelhardt said, “we ask that you support House Bill 1060.”

Supporters told the committee correctional officers work in hazardous, high‑stress environments and frequently encounter assaults and exposures. Engelhardt provided 2024 incident…