Committee weighs extending infectious-disease occupational disability protections to EMTs; sponsors agree to remove explicit COVID-19 mention

Lawmakers heard from fire, police and union representatives who urged that infectious diseases be explicitly covered in occupational disability law and that emergency medical technicians be included in those protections.

Senator Basilian introduced a bill to add infectious diseases to the list that can qualify first responders for occupational disability and to add EMTs to the existing firefighters and police officers coverage. Sponsor testimony cited pandemic-era exposure and longer-term health effects and asked the committee to add clarity to the statute to ensure eligible first responders can access disability benefits.

Paul Valletta of the International Association of Fire Fighters described three firefighters who contracted COVID-19 and later developed cardiac issues that prevented them from continuing to serve; he said the retirement board's counsel had advised that the existing statutory language was not sufficiently specific to compel the board to grant disability pensions. Valletta said the sponsor intends to revise the bill in response to municipal concerns by removing an explicit reference to COVID-19 while retaining infectious-disease coverage and by clarifying the statutory cross-reference to the injured-on-duty definition in R.I. Gen. Laws 45-19.

John Rossi of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers voiced full support. The committee voted to hold the bill for further drafting and negotiation with municipalities and the Treasurer's office.

Sponsor and witnesses said the goal is to align the statute with judicial interpretation and to ensure first responders who suffer qualifying conditions after infectious-disease exposure can access occupational disability benefits.